TBILISI, DFWatch — Activists for the governing Georgian Dream coalition continue to rally people around the country in their demand to replace local government tops, including those appointed by their own party.

Tuesday, two rallies are being launched in Tsalka, a town in the Kvemo Kartli region in southern Georgia, and Sagarejo, a town in the eastern Kakheti region.

Information Center of Kakheti reports that activists for the governing party have gathered at the municipality building in Sagarejo demanding that the mayor, Giorgi Loladze, resigns.

Loladze was appointed by Tina Khidasheli, member of parliament for Georgian Dream. Locals blame her of interrupting the work of the local government.

“It is understandable that Tina Khidasheli appointed Giorgi Loladze as mayor, but if the mayor is not able to decide staff changes himself, we don’t need him,” ICK quotes Mikheil Kvlividze, one of the protesters, who also accuse the new mayor of not being educated enough.

Loladze met two of the protesters during the rally, where about 50 persons had gathered. Activists accused him of not making decisions, but being controlled by Khidasheli. Loladze on his part accused them of being bitter for not having been appointed to any “good posts”, despite their activism for the party.

“The MP [Khidasheli, ed.] isn’t involved in the functions of the mayor. She comes once a week and meets with the voters,” he said.

But the protesters say they will hold more rallies if he doesn’t resign.

Loladze was appointed on this post November 2 of 2012, a month after parliament election of Georgia.

A rally is ongoing at Tsalka municipality. Georgian Dream activists are gathered there as well, demanding to have a Georgian Dream activist as mayor instead of Joni Sabadze.


The protesters claim Joni Sabadze has been chair of local security service for years and he has the support of the MP who won the parliamentary election for the National Movement in this district with a large margin.

The activists distrust the MP and the mayor, and demand to replace the mayor and have appointed the one who has people’s support.

There have been many demonstrations outside local governments offices after the parliamentary election on October 1, 2012. Locals don’t like having the National Movement representatives still governing their town. The next local election is in 2014.