It is very painful when representatives of a foreign country use you to advance their own interests against your homeland - Kakha Kaladze

"It is regrettable that our country's citizens are being used against the Georgian state," stated Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. Kaladze was asked about a statement posted on social media by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, in which he wrote: "According to the opposition's tally, today marks the 666th day of the 'protest'; this milestone offers a good opportunity to describe how a group of political protest activists transformed into a pseudo-religious movement."

Kaladze explained that the majority of the country's population sees that the participants in the Rustaveli protests are being directed by representatives of foreign countries to act against Georgia's interests.

"We see how the protest rallies are organized. We know who is behind it all. One might hold different political views, but it is deeply troubling when representatives of a foreign country use you to advance their own interests against your homeland. The majority of the population clearly sees the challenges facing the world today. The majority of citizens stand where our country needs them to stand," stated Kakha Kaladze.