Radical political forces have announced a rally for tomorrow, Election Day, it is self-evident that the purpose of the rally is not only unconstitutional, but any attempt to fulfil it may also be qualified as a criminal offence. Such a statement made today the Prime Minister of Georgia.

“As you will recall, radical political forces have announced a rally for tomorrow, the declared purpose of which is to overthrow or violently change Georgia’s constitutional order.

Responsibility for organizing this rally, or support for its declared purpose, has been assumed by Unity-National Movement, Ahali, Lelo, and several smaller political parties.

Furthermore, support for the rally and its purpose has been expressed by a whole series of radical and extremist organisations and groups, the vast majority of which are financed from foreign sources. It is self-evident that the purpose of the rally is not only unconstitutional, but any attempt to fulfil it may also be qualified as a criminal offence.

Given the pre-declared purpose of the rally, any act of violence committed by its participants will fall under articles of Georgia’s Criminal Code that are more severe than those applied to perpetrators of violence during last year’s rallies.

Accordingly, if the latter received sentences of between 2 and 4.5 years’ imprisonment for violent acts committed last year, in the event of violent crimes being committed tomorrow, the sentences imposed may be considerably more severe. I remind you here that several days ago, one person was held accountable for disseminating a video appeal containing threats to attack polling stations. I wish to remind everyone that the Criminal Code provides for imprisonment of up to four years for this category of crime”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.