Kvirikashvili blames "destructive political forces” for Batumi events

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says that an everyday life event that took place in Batumi has been used by "destructive political forces” to escalate the situation, Agenda.ge reports.

Kvirikashvili addressed the nation on Sunday morning and called on the all sides of the confrontation to act peacefully. "Unfortunately, these [destructive political] forces do not hesitate to try to shake the foundation of the stability of the state; they provoke vandal acts, commit violence against representatives of state institutions, who, in accordance to our instructions, are only minimally reacting to the developments in order to avoid complications of the situation”, Kvirikashvili said in his early morning address.

He added that the state "will by all means ensure peace and order” and let citizens "live in a peaceful environment”. Kvirikashvili noted that everyone responsible for the unrest will be punished relevantly.