President’s Statement on Blast Hitting UNM MP’s Car

President Giorgi Margvelashvili described explosion that hit opposition UNM MP Givi Targamadze’s car as a “terrorist act” and said that it’s an “attack of crime against normal political, democratic process.”

MP Targamadze and his driver survived in a car blast late on Tuesday evening in the center of Tbilisi, close to Freedom Square; four by-passers were hospitalized with injuries.

Police investigate the case as “an attempted murder in aggravating circumstances.”

“This is a fight of criminality against the society and politicians,” President Margvelashvili told journalists on October 5.

“Unfortunately, there are some hot-headed elements among political forces. We can directly call them criminal elements, which, regretfully, see the political process as a physical reprisal against each other. They think that’s how they should be involved in a political process,” he said.

“I want to address political forces – these people are dangerous not only for democracy, not only for normal public development, but also for you. Any political force, which count on the actions of such elements are doomed for becoming target of reprisals from these very elements,” the President said.               

“I call on the politicians to find strength to localize within their ranks such individuals… They will soon turn against you; therefore sift them out of your ranks,” he said.
 
“I also want to address law enforcement agencies – fighting against these people, finding these people, localizing and neutralizing them is not only your duty, but it is a precondition for peaceful coexistence and development of the society. You should be completely free of any political context… More intensive work is required in this regard. If you face some difficulties, be sure that I stand beside you and I fully support you in prosecuting criminals and ensuring normal political process and normal elections.”
 
“We are conducting truly normal, European-style elections, but certain groups are trying to divert elections from a normal European political process – those for whom Georgia’s success is a threat are interested in it.”

“I call on everyone to get united for stability, peace and democratic development,” President Margvelashvili said. “Unfortunately, there have been number of incidents, which create grave impression. But I am confident that Georgian public’s stance, which views elections not as a war but as a step towards strengthening of the country, will prevail.”

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