"I stand before you not only as a mayoral candidate, but also as a person who has lived the life of each district and precinct of Tbilisi for the past eight years," Tbilisi Mayor and Georgian Dream mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze said at the event where the ruling party nominated its candidate for Tbilisi mayor.

He also thanked his teammates and party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili for the trust they have shown him.

“I will run for the third time in a row as a candidate for the mayor of Tbilisi - this is a great responsibility. For me, this is another great opportunity to serve our beautiful Tbilisi and the people of Tbilisi. I would like to thank our political team for the trust they have shown. I would like to personally thank Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose support since 2011 has been a great honor for me to fight and defend national interests. I would like to thank our supporters - each and every person who, despite many difficulties, including us, has stood by me personally throughout all these years.

I would like to recall 2011, when I first met Mr Bidzina Ivanishvili. Our conversation was about the ongoing processes in the country - the difficult political background. I remember Mr. Bidzina's question - where I saw myself in politics and how I saw my future. At that time, I was still involved in football, I had no political experience. My answer was very simple - I am ready to serve "the country, the people, to be where the team needs me. Today, after 14 years, I have obviously accumulated great political experience, I will repeat the same, I am ready to serve my country and be where our political team needs me," said Kakha Kaladze.

He also said that in overcoming the difficulties that have arisen in the wake of many achievements and successes over the past years, the trust of Tbilisi residents and faith in a better future were important.

“Since 2017, when I became the mayor of the capital, we have achieved a lot together. All great initiatives are accompanied by difficulties, but with our teamwork, determination, trust of Tbilisi residents and belief in a better future for our city, together we have made a number of turning points in the development of Tbilisi. I would like to thank you for your trust and cooperation, for every encouraging word, for businesslike criticism and for every initiative, after the implementation of which, our capital has become more beautiful, green, developed, orderly and full of life,” - noted Kakha Kaladze.