MP Giorgi Targamadze, leader of Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM) called on the authorities and Bidzina Ivanishvili-led opposition coalition to stop talk of civil war, saying that it was “unacceptable way to raise the political temperature” ahead of parliamentary elections in October.

Irakli Alasania, one of the leaders of Ivanishvili-led opposition coalition, accused President Saakashvili of setting up paramilitary groups and preparing for “civil war”. President Saakashvili responded that “threatening” population with civil war and voicing allegations about paramilitary groups was “immoral” and “idiocy”.

Speaking at a parliamentary session on March 20 during the debates before cabinet’s confidence vote, CDM leader MP Giorgi Targamadze said that “bloodshed” and “civil war” had become “the most popular” campaign talking points ahead of elections.

“Should not we put an end to this kind of talk? The existing political spectrum in Georgia fuels such talk – both the authorities and the part of opposition, which believes that threatening population is the only right way to raise the political temperature,” he said.

He said it was “the most dangerous path”, which once had already led Georgia to civil war in early 1990s.

“I once again call on the Georgian authorities and President Saakashvili, I call on all political parties and leaders, to be cautious about even mentioning ‘civil war’, because something that politicians start talking about actively, it usually then becomes a reality,” MP Giorgi Targamadze said.