Prime Minister warns organizers of October 4 rally - Irakli Kobakhidze calls on supporters of violent change of the constitutional order to distance themselves from the gathering with anti-constitutional intentions.

“Today the election campaign comes to an end and we would like to summarize the pre-election process:

As you may well know, 12 political unions are participating in the elections and they were given the opportunity to conduct their campaigns freely and on equal terms. The electoral process was competitive and substantially free from the use of administrative resources, as well as from threats, pressure and violence.

We would like to thank the Central Election Commission of Georgia for the high-level administration of the pre-election processes, as well as the law enforcement agencies for ensuring the safety of citizens during the campaign.

Tomorrow, crucial elections will take place, in which the citizens of Georgia will determine the future of the development of their cities and villages. We are pleased that in recent years local self-government has become a branch of power that enjoys particularly high public trust. This is an achievement that every citizen of our country should take special care to preserve.

We are confident that tomorrow our fellow citizens will make a choice that will best ensure the progress and development of our cities and villages, and of each municipality. On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I would like to ask each of our fellow citizens, each voter, to demonstrate a high sense of civic responsibility and cast their vote in the local self-government elections.

As you may well know, radical political forces have announced a rally for tomorrow, the declared aim of which is to overthrow or violently change the constitutional order of Georgia. Responsibility for organizing this rally has been assumed and/or its declared goal has been supported by the United National Movement, Akhali, Lelo and several relatively small political parties. In addition, a number of radical and extremist organizations and groups, most of which are funded from foreign sources, have expressed their support for the rally and its objectives.

It is self-evident that the goal of the rally is not only unconstitutional, but any attempt to carry it out may also be qualified as a criminal offense. Furthermore, given the rally"s publicly declared objective, any act of violence committed by its participants will fall under stricter articles of the Criminal Code of Georgia than those applied to the perpetrators of last year"s rallies. Accordingly, if those individuals were sentenced to 2 to 4.5 years of imprisonment for violent acts committed last year, then in the event of violent crimes tomorrow, the imposed sentences may be significantly harsher.

I would also like to remind you that a few days ago, a person who disseminated a video message containing threats to storm polling stations was brought to justice. I want to remind everyone that for this category of crime, the Criminal Code provides for up to 4 years of imprisonment.

Since 2012, Georgia has been a democratic state and everyone here has the right to peaceful assembly. However, once again, we warn everyone that any act of violence will receive the strictest legal response. We call on all political parties and other associations, while there is still time, to clearly distance themselves from a gathering whose goal is the overthrow or violent change of Georgia"s constitutional order.

I want to remind everyone that today Georgia-its constitutional system and state institutions, including law-enforcement structures-is strong and united as never before. Therefore, we do not advise anyone to take risks and confront the state system and the law, from which every offender will receive the strictest response.

Georgia continues its peaceful and stable development, for which the Government of Georgia and each of its agencies take full responsibility”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.