Georgian opposition: 'Regime’s repression will only strengthen public resistance'
Joint statement by Georgia’s opposition
Seven Georgian opposition parties have issued a joint statement condemning the government of Georgian Dream for intensifying its repressive measures. In the statement, they warn that the escalation of repression will only provoke stronger resistance from the Georgian people.
According to the opposition, the Georgian Dream regime has lost both its international and moral legitimacy — and is therefore resorting to repression and disinformation.
The statement was published by the parties Ahali, Girchi – More Freedom, Droa, the National Democratic Party, European Georgia, Freedom Square, and the Federalists.
What the statement says
“The escalation of political persecution by Ivanishvili’s criminal regime will become the basis for even stronger resistance from Georgian society, especially given that political prisoners and their families have already shown us an example of steadfastness and strength in the face of evil.
‘Georgian Dream’ presents itself as a defender of traditional Georgian and family values. Yet, by using false testimony and fabricated cases, it has for years separated parents from children, wives from husbands, sisters from brothers, condemning families to long-term separation.
The Ivanishvili regime has exacerbated all the problems facing the country. Its own members admit that corruption, abuse of power and enrichment at the expense of citizens are part of the regime’s way of life.
As a result of Ivanishvili’s deliberate actions, Georgia is moving further away from the free world and is left alone facing the enemy — Russia, which poses a serious threat to our statehood and independence.
The regime is trying to use the education, healthcare and social welfare systems to retain its power, rather than to serve the well-being of Georgian citizens, and for that purpose it is increasing administrative control and repression.
It wants to finally take the state away from the people of Georgia in order to continue plundering our soldiers, teachers, pensioners, children and students with impunity.
But despite all these attempts, the regime has failed to crush the righteous protest of society.
The regime no longer has the domestic, international or moral legitimacy to remain in power, and therefore relies entirely on disinformation and repression.
We have many differences among us, but we are united by a common goal — to peacefully replace the regime of corrupt criminals who rob the people, and to free unjustly imprisoned writers, doctors, students, actors and politicians. Let us preserve Georgia’s independence and statehood and reclaim our place in our historic home — the Euro-Atlantic space.
Over the past year, through their courageous and consistent struggle, the Georgian people have proven that they deserve to live in a just, safe and free country, and will not allow the constitution to be violated. Ivanishvili’s repressions will not stand in the way of the people.
We, democratic political parties, will fight to the end to return power to those to whom it truly belongs — the Georgian people.
Fight to the end, until victory!”
Currently in Georgia, several leaders of the pro-Western opposition — Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze — are facing criminal prosecution.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the cases have been opened on charges including sabotage, aiding and inciting hostile activities against a foreign state, financing actions aimed at undermining Georgia’s constitutional order and national security, as well as calling for the violent overthrow of the government.
Joint statement by Georgia’s opposition
