"Why have we covered up and forgotten the fact that they poisoned me? People shout from here, 'Russia, what?!' and others respond, 'What about Mikheil?!' They pit Russia and Mikheil against each other," said Georgia's third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, during a remote court appearance from Vivamed.Saakashvili discussed several issues, including the participation of the United National Movement alongside other parties and Salome Zourabichvili in a coordination council.

"I wish a Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today and wish you success and the removal of these monsters as soon as possible. Georgia has been seized by a true mafia, a group of deceitful and hysterical brigands destroying everything Georgian. That’s why we are participating in every format aimed at their removal. The United National Movement will join other parties and Salome Zourabichvili in the coordination council because we face numerous challenges.

In Tkibuli, 150 miners were dismissed, condemning already struggling people to hunger. Our movement must respond to this. Of course, I express my full solidarity with our political prisoners and the young people unjustly detained. But, my friends, I also ask you to sometimes recall the immense injustice I face.

This morning, the Russian regime informed me I could no longer receive correspondence. Today, my lawyer was unable to deliver mail, including Facebook printouts. Who else could be behind this but the Russians? Even Navalny wasn’t subjected to such treatment. Why have we forgotten that they poisoned me? Why have we ignored that all my rights are being violated, including being subjected to dual imprisonment?

Am I the worst or least deserving resident of Georgia? Do you not know why I am here? What did I do wrong—pulling the country out of a swamp? Defeating crime? Didn’t you see yesterday what happened? A hundred masked men raided and ransacked a club. They’ve dragged us back to the 1990s. And yet, you still talk about the 'bloody nine years'? Anyone repeating the 'bloody nine years' cliché from Russian propaganda is directly a supporter of Georgian Dream—or worse.

In the 1990s, we pulled this country out of the abyss, and now they’ve dragged it back. That’s why the thuggish criminals shout, 'Russia, what?!' and others answer, 'What about Mikheil?!' They are pitting Russia and Mikheil against one another," Saakashvili said.

He also emphasized that today, in prison, his correspondence was blocked because he communicates with global leaders.

"I am friends with many world leaders and correspond with them, but they block this communication because they themselves no longer speak to anyone and are envious," he added.

Addressing businesspeople, Saakashvili said: "I want to ask businesspeople who remain silent about my imprisonment—excuse me, but wasn’t it me who gave you transparent taxation, a simple tax system, low taxes, a corruption-free environment, and easy business registration? Is this how you wash your hands of it and say, 'We didn’t like that time, so we turned away'? What new and better system have you gained since then?"

Saakashvili also remarked that Georgian Dream has no intention of calling new elections. "Of course, they have no plans to hold elections. They believe in brute force. If power plows uphill, then true power is in the people. This power needs to be organized, unified into a single fist, and this fist must crush the mafia system. Mafia members are cowards.

Yesterday, when [Tbilisi Mayor Kakha] Kaladze brought in criminal elements for another staged celebration, did you see how they hid their faces? Every mafia member, individually, is very afraid. They have no real power," Saakashvili concluded.