This is illegal persecution by the regime, political retaliation, and you are instruments of repression — for which you will inevitably be held accountable! – This is how one of the leaders of "Strategy Aghmashenebeli," Paata Manjgaladze, assessed the arrest of the party’s leader, Giorgi Vashadze.

According to Paata Manjgaladze, the temporary investigative commission created in Parliament has no legitimacy, does not represent the opposition, and is entirely fake.

"Yesterday, another political leader, Giorgi Vashadze, was unlawfully arrested. At the same time, the ‘Georgian Dream’ members keep repeating like brainwashed zombies: ‘Everyone is equal before the law and no one has immunity.’ That’s correct, but let’s clarify — just as shamelessly as you lie about being a constitutionally defined opposition within this commission, your so-called 'justice' and 'equality' are equally shameless. If you really believe that someone’s arrest based on this commission’s ‘conclusion’ is lawful, then you should know you are either fools, sellout opportunists, or — as is most often the case — both.

Putting the elections aside, this so-called commission was founded in gross violation of the Constitution; it has no legitimacy, does not represent the opposition, and therefore — including [Minister] Tsulukiani — is completely fake and null. Accordingly, this is unlawful persecution by the regime, political retaliation, and you are instruments of repression — for which you will inevitably be held accountable!” – said Paata Manjgaladze.

For context: The leader of "Strategy Aghmashenebeli," Giorgi Vashadze, was found guilty by the court for failing to comply with a request by Parliament's temporary investigative commission. Judge Nino Galustashvili sentenced him to seven months in prison and barred him from holding public office for two years.

Giorgi Vashadze was not present at the announcement of the verdict.