Mayoral candidate in Tbilisi ready to support her opponent Gakharia in legal dispute against ruling party head

Female mayoral candidate in Tbilisi, former deputy defence minister and ex-head of Georgia’s Young Lawyers’ Association Anna Dolidze says that she is ready to support her opponent, ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia, in a legal dispute if launched against head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze. 

Despite Gakharia having presented his negative test for drugs made in one of Venice clinics, Kobakhidze claims that the former prime minister under the Georgian Dream leadership consumes drugs. 

Dolidze says that as a ‘highly-qualified’ lawyer she is able to support Gakharia. 

She also says that ‘speculating with the drug consumption issue’ Kobakhidze is ‘further stigmatising drug consumers.’ 

Gakharia, who quit premiership and the GD party back in February 2021, is running for Tbilisi mayor. 

His opponent from the GD, Kakha Kaladze tested for drugs ahead of the October 2 municipal elections and encouraged his opponents to do so. 

Gakharia, who founded the For Georgia political party in May 2021, refused to test for drugs in Tbilisi ‘to prevent a provocation staged against him.’ 

He has been described as a ‘traitor’ by the GD many times since leaving the party.