**Prime Minister Declares War on “Liberal Fascism” in Georgia**
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, has declared it a national mission to stop what he calls “liberal fascism” in the country. He made this statement at a briefing after elections were held by the electoral college.
Kobakhidze said that opposition parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are spreading propaganda and threatening Georgia’s stability. He specifically mentioned four opposition forces that passed the election threshold and wealthy NGOs, claiming their activities must stop.
The Prime Minister has repeated threats made earlier by his party’s founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, to ban opposition parties. They have been using this as a key part of their election campaign.
Ivanishvili has defended laws that aim to label NGOs receiving foreign funding as foreign agents. He claims these organizations are being controlled by foreign countries and accused them of trying to stage a coup in Georgia.
**Protests Continue Amidst Repression**
Kobakhidze’s statement comes as protests continue across the country, including in Tbilisi and other regions. These protests started after elections were disputed and the Prime Minister announced that Georgia would stop talks with the European Union.
The government has responded to the protests with force, using water cannons and tear gas against peaceful protesters. Activists have also been detained and reports of torture and mistreatment have surfaced.
The raids on opposition party offices and activists’ homes are still happening, causing widespread concern among citizens.