Defence Ministry Re-Addresses Former Soldiers’ Statements against Presidential Candidate
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, November 15
The Ministry of Defence has re-addressed the statements made by former soldiers against the Georgian Dream ruling party endorsed independent presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili.
The former soldiers, “who are affiliated with the United National Movement opposition” as Zurabishvili says, are threatening and abusing her and her family.
In a video address from a couple of days ago, General Devi Chankotadze, former head of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, addressed Georgians to not vote for Zurabishvili in the upcoming runoff, as the candidate says that Georgia started the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
The Defence Ministry shortly stated that Chankotadze is a former member of the Georgian army and his statements have nothing to do with the views of the Armed Forces.
However, as former Georgian soldiers now fighting in Ukraine continue their statements against Zurabishvili, the Ministry had to re-address the issue.
“Any attempt to drag the army into the political process is dangerous and anti-state action, - Major General Vladimir Chachibaia, Chief of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, has stated, responding to the statements and actions of former soldiers.
“The Georgian Armed Forces is a politically neutral state institution aiming to protect the country's sovereignty and independence. This task obliges us to be united, consolidated and ready to deal with challenges. Accordingly, the Georgian Army belongs to each citizen of Georgia and is composed of the representatives of the society regardless of their ethnic, religious or political views,” Chachibaia said.
He urged the people involved in the campaign, former military servicemen, that the use of armed forces for political goals “contradicts the interests of the armed forces and the entire country”.
The runoff between Zurabishvili and the candidate of the united opposition from the United National Movement Grigol Vashadze will supposedly take place at the end of the month.
Zurabishvili received 0.9 percent of votes in the first round of elections than Vashadze and as none of the candidates gained at least 51 percent of votes the runoff became necessary.
Zurabishvili says that former President Mikheil Saakashvili was provoked by Russia to start the 2008 conflict.
