“Pre-election banners appeared in Tbilisi depicting cities destroyed or damaged as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
Journalists asked the politician whether it would be ethical for Ukraine to use Sukhumi footage for election purposes. He replied that such personnel were used in Ukraine.
“I remember that the Ukrainians actively used these shots for various purposes, including humorous ones, but that’s another issue. Today we are talking about the consequences of wars in general and what we avoided for our country in 2022-2023 and what should be avoided,” said the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Meanwhile, Kobakhidze refused to comment on the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding the use of photos of Ukrainian cities in political advertising.
“What is happening in Ukraine is unacceptable. As for this statement, I will not comment on it. As for the comparison of war and peace, it is fundamentally important for society to make the right choice that is depicted on these banners, which we avoid at the cost of a very big struggle, particularly in 2022-2023. Our country would have suffered the same fate if we had not done the right thing. Some people are going to do the same even after this parliamentary election. If God forbid, society will make the wrong decision,” he added.
In the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, pre-election banners appeared, depicting cities, buildings and churches destroyed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including Mariupol with the inscription “No war!”. On the right side, the photo shows objects built and restored by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, as well as a view of Batumi at night with the inscription “Choose peace”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the government of Georgia, the ruling party “Georgian Dream” and all interested parties “to refrain from using the theme of an aggressive war against Ukraine and its citizens in the internal political struggle in Georgia.”
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has chosen Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire and former prime minister, as its main candidate in the October 26 parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Irakliy Kobakhidze became the second number on the pre-election list.