It seems Ivanishvili has been given a certain deadline. We don’t know how long this deadline is, but it was mentioned that Macron is expected to call him again to find out what decision he has ultimately made. Of course, Ivanishvili will have to concede, and the sooner he does, the better it will be for him and the country,- said analyst Zurab Batiashvili during an interview on the program "NewsRoom" on PalitraNews TV.

Batiashvili highlighted the phone conversation between Ivanishvili and Macron, noting that Washington likely played a role behind the scenes.

"In this case, I believe President Macron's conversation with Ivanishvili is of decisive importance. Both Ivanishvili and Zurabishvili are connected to France from a citizenship perspective. At the same time, it is impossible that Macron acted without the knowledge or agreement of the United States. Especially considering that Trump was in Paris the day before. With changes happening in the U.S. administration, Macron may see an opportunity to be more active in European affairs, particularly given the connection of these two individuals to France. It seems Ivanishvili has been given a deadline. We don’t know how long it is—it won’t stretch to months—but it was said that Macron would call again to check what Ivanishvili has decided. Everyone knows that in this country, no decision is made by Georgian Dream without Ivanishvili. This kind of intervention is unprecedented in international relations, where official representatives typically communicate with other official representatives. In this case, a non-official person was contacted, underscoring the importance of the Georgian issue for France," Batiashvili said.

He emphasized that Georgian Dream must agree to defuse the situation in any scenario.

"The government is now illegitimate. The economy will collapse, and they will have to leave after paying an even higher price. Therefore, defusing the situation is inevitable. The only way to defuse the situation is to release political prisoners and hold accountable those involved in torturing these people, followed by new elections that are free from government influence," said Batiashvili.

Regarding Irakli Kobakhidze's statement suggesting Salome Zurabishvili could face life behind bars after December 29, Batiashvili warned that any move to arrest Zurabishvili would come with a heavy political price.

"This regime [Georgian Dream] is known for its reckless decisions, so they might do it, but actions have consequences. If only one minister is sanctioned now, the entire cabinet and their deputies could be sanctioned next. There might not be anyone left in government who isn’t sanctioned. If they are willing to take this step, their collapse will only accelerate. Every action has a political price, and in this case, the price will be very high. If Macron has already spoken to Ivanishvili, he might be compelled to move from words to actions. Salome Zurabishvili is the only person currently engaging with international partners on behalf of Georgia. No one else is seen as credible. Even the foreign minister, Bochorshvili, is referred to as a party representative, not as a minister. The same applies to others like Kobakhidze. Zurabishvili stands alone. She has a strong grasp of international relations, and her value is well-recognized abroad. Any arrest or drastic actions against her will not go unanswered. Ivanishvili will have to concede, and the sooner he does, the better it will be for him and the country. However, much can change before December 29. The pressure, both internationally and domestically, is increasing. This was evident during the protests over the past two days, which have grown in both scale and political significance, especially after Zurabishvili’s statements. People might wonder why sanctions haven’t been imposed yet, but the weekend is a time of rest. Sanctions will resume, and the people will ultimately win this struggle," Batiashvili concluded.