Ruling Party Founder Warns of Radical Threats Ahead of Georgia Vote

Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, commemorated the anniversary of the party’s 2012 election victory with a detailed statement on October 1, calling it a pivotal moment in the country’s modern history.

Ivanishvili said October 1, 2012, when Georgian Dream defeated then-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement, had become “a symbol of unity, dignity, and the triumph of good over evil” for Georgia. He stressed that the “main creator” of that day was the Georgian people, not any single leader or party, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Reflecting on the thirteen years since the vote, Ivanishvili described 2012 as a dividing line between “authoritarianism, obedience to foreign interests, fear and terror” on one side, and “democracy, sovereignty, and freedom” on the other. He said that despite mistakes along the way, his party had delivered uninterrupted peace, steady improvements across sectors, and greater independence for Georgia.

The former prime minister warned of “radical forces” at home and abroad, which he accused of trying to sow division and undermine sovereignty. He claimed that certain members of his own party had betrayed its ideals in the past, but said they had been exposed as serving outside interests. According to Ivanishvili, the Georgian people had consistently chosen “the right side” in moments of crisis, guided by traditions, Christian values, and a commitment to independence.

Looking ahead to the October 4 local elections, he called the vote another test of unity. Ivanishvili urged citizens to turn out at polling stations and “finalize peacefully the victory achieved in 2012.” He framed the contest as a choice between continued peace and development, or a return to “radicalism and confrontation.”

“Long live the united Georgian people! Long live a united Georgia,” the statement concluded.