Kobakhidze: ALDE Should Address Party Leader's Terrorist Plot

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reacted to ALDE’s statement regarding the BBC investigation by accusing the European liberal alliance of deflecting attention from what he called a much more serious issue-the alleged planning of a terrorist act by one of ALDE’s affiliated political leaders in Tbilisi.

Kobakhidze claimed that ALDE’s reaction to the BBC report is part of a “coordinated scheme” directed against Georgia’s state interests, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

“A simple lie was spread. ALDE, in my opinion, should be more worried that one of its party leaders was organizing a terrorist act in the center of Tbilisi, in the courthouse. Instead, they are trying to shift the focus by relying on a lie spread by one of the fake TV channels. This speaks to the tragic situation within this particular European party,” Kobakhidze said.

ALDE - the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - earlier issued a statement declaring that “European liberals are outraged by today’s BBC investigation,” which alleged the use of a World War I-era chemical agent against pro-EU protesters in 2024.

The alliance reiterated its support for Georgian opposition parties demanding an independent international investigation and urged international partners to limit the transfer of equipment that could be used against civilians.