Russian oppositionist Alexey Navalny apologizes for the "insulting slur" about Georgians and calls on the Georgian authorities to release Mikheil Saakashvili.

He posted the relevant statement on Twitter.

“I want to say a few words about Mikheil Saakashvili. I do not know him personally and have never met him. I don't know anyone from his team, nor did anyone ask me to write this post.

To my shame, I have a rather poor understanding of Georgian politics and may say something wrong.

To my even greater shame, I wrote a post with an insulting slur about Georgians back in 2008 under the influence of the fact that a friend of mine was being shelled in Tskhinvali. I apologized for that and I apologize again now, but I know that my opinion does not carry much weight in Georgia because of that.

Nevertheless, I decided to write this anyway, as a human being and a Christian, because what's going on is hard to watch.

Saakashvili is suffering, his family is suffering, and the whole of Georgia feels bad about what's going on, and it doesn't do any good even for those who would like to keep Saakashvili in jail until death.

I believe in Georgia's happy European future. This is a great country that has everything to prosper. I believe that this political confrontation (after all, where isn't there one?) will be resolved peacefully and safely.

But this imprisonment and torture of the former president is horrible and heartless. It hurts Georgia's European choice, it hurts its development, it reduces its chances for a normal future. It lowers morale and fills the country with anger.

Understandably, this confrontation is fierce and deeply emotional. I have no doubt that Saakashvili's opponents have much to remember him for and much to avenge. That's what I want to say. And I want to encourage those who will hear my words. There is no need for revenge, no matter how much you want it. The whole of Georgia will suffer from this revenge.This is a dead-end and cruel solution, strategically disadvantageous to everyone.

As usual, it all comes down to the fact that everyone wants to save face. Everyone wants to show that have not given in, but on the contrary, they have made everyone give in to them.

But the authorities must be more merciful than their opponents. After all, that's why they're the authorities. Saakashvili is very sick and all the talk about him faking it is nonsense. Believe me, prison sucks the health out of anyone and at a tremendous rate.

Letting him out for treatment with a deferred sentence or doing something like that, which would allow the parties to comply with the law and save face, would be the right thing to do.

It's Holy Week now in Orthodox countries now, and the next week is Easter week. Now is a good time for a challenging but merciful act for the good of the country and a step toward national reconciliation.

I urge the Georgian authorities and all of Mikheil Saakashvili's opponents to take this step in the spirit of Christian charity and peacemaking”, Alexey Navalny tweeted.