Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and a leader of the ruling "Georgian Dream" party, stated that the mass protests in the Georgian capital on October 4, 2025, were organized with the support of European institutions. On that day, following a rally, some protesters attempted to break into the presidential palace.
"We heard nothing but encouragement from European institutions regarding the events of October 4, as the attempted coup was funded by them," Kaladze told reporters.
Kaladze linked the events surrounding the protests to the broader policies of European countries toward Georgia. According to him, external forces are attempting to influence the country's domestic politics through political groups they support.
"If we look at the processes unfolding within the country in recent years and where they are being directed from, it becomes obvious: they aim to bring their own agents to power in order to use the country and the Georgian people to advance their own interests. Unfortunately, that is the reality," Kaladze said.
Against this backdrop, he proposed starting Georgia's relationship with the European Union "with a clean slate."
His comments were prompted by a joint statement from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and the European Liberal Forum, calling for sanctions against representatives of "Georgian Dream."
Kaladze stated that such declarations demonstrate a hostile attitude toward Georgia and once again criticized the European reaction to Tbilisi's legislative initiatives.
"The statements made by these people are riddled with lies. For instance, when they opposed the transparency laws we adopted, we asked them to present concrete arguments—something they ultimately failed to do." "They simply have no arguments—they are merely carrying out anti-state directives," the mayor declared.
He added that potential personal sanctions would not influence the policies of the Georgian authorities.
"The main task is to pursue a course that guarantees the preservation of peace and the country's steady economic development," Kaladze said.
Speaking about future relations with the EU, the Mayor of Tbilisi stated that they must be built on an equal footing and free from pressure regarding Georgia's foreign policy decisions.
"Without anyone looking down on us or expressing dissatisfaction that the country did not join European sanctions—thereby avoiding damage to its own economy—and ignored threats about opening a 'second front'," Kaladze said.
According to him, Tbilisi is interested in relations with European countries based exclusively on "friendly and partnership ties."
