Opposition: The government's attempt to intimidate and arrest political opponents will not bring the desired result - we demand the release of Nika Melia, Bacho Dolidze and Zviad Kuprava

We, representatives of Georgian pro-Western opposition political groups, regardless of political taste and party affiliation, all who are united by the desire to integrate into Europe, united by the European future dictated by the history of Georgia, demand the release of Nika Melia, Bacho Dolidze and Zviad Kuprava, political parties, MPs, say in a joint statement.

As noted in the statement, the government of Georgia, while waiting for the decision regarding the status of a candidate for EU membership, continues to sabotage European integration and proves every day that the government wants to maintain power through authoritarianism, oligarchy and Russian kleptocracy.

"On September 22, an open call to violence by a member of the ruling party in the City Council was followed by a physical attack on the opposition deputy of the Council, in which representatives of the state and the criminal world were involved.

This fact once again clearly showed that Ivanishvili's one-man, criminal, Russian-style rule daily undermines the future of our country and is a big obstacle on the way to Euro-Atlantic integration. Instead of actively working on joining NATO and obtaining a Western security umbrella for the country, the government is strengthening Russian propaganda.

While waiting for a decision on the status of a candidate for EU membership, the Georgian government continues to sabotage European integration and proves daily that the government wants to maintain power through authoritarianism, oligarchy and Russian kleptocracy.

The sanctioning of Partskhaladze by the United States of America and the subsequent steps taken by the government once again confirmed that Ivanishvili's collaborationist government is deliberately trying to stop the country from establishing its historical place in the European family.

Another proof of this is the arrest of Nika Melia. When the police did not conduct proper investigative actions against the persons exposed in the violence against the opposition MP Irakli Edzgveradze, the opposition leader was arrested.

The government is using politically motivated justice against Nika Melia for the third time. A criminal case was initiated, while all the state institutions are covering up Partskhaladze, a spy of Russia, a thief of sneakers, a proven criminal, a villain and in cooperation with the terrorist state, thus continuing to sabotage the Euro-Atlantic course.

The government's attempt to intimidate and arrest political opponents will not bring them the desired result, because despite the differences of opinion on specific issues, despite the fact that many of us cannot agree on the past and cannot agree on the present, we agree on the European future of Georgia, and with this agreement we reflect the position of the absolute majority of the people.

We, the representatives of the Georgian pro-Western opposition political groups, regardless of political taste and party affiliation, all who are united by the desire for integration into Europe, united by the European future dictated by the history of Georgia, demand the release of Nika Melia, Bacho Dolidze and Zviad Kuprava," the statement reads.

The signatories of the statement are as follows:

Girchi - Dora

Lelo

Labor Party of Georgia

United National Movement

Strategy Builder - Giorgi Vashadze

For Justice - Eka Beselia;

Movement - the State for the People

European Georgia - Giga Bokeria

Progress and Freedom - Kakha Okriashvili

Tribune - Davit Chichinadze

Also, MPs, politicians and political groups:

Giorgi Margvelashvili

Khatia Dekanoidze

Roman Gotsiridze

Theona Akubardia

Tamar Kordzaia

Khatuna Samnidze

Armaz Akhvlediani

Gigi Ugulava.