Giorgi Vashadze: I’m doing well; The news is that I’m writing to you from cell 308 — a prisoner is not the one who has been physically detained, but the one who is outside and fails to understand the essence of freedom; Our weapon is unity and the fight until the end!

Giorgi Vashadze, leader of Strategy Aghmashenebeli, has published a letter from Rustavi’s No. 12 penitentiary facility.

As Vashadze states, he is feeling well and fully aware of the path that has led him to prison.

According to him, “the regime is doomed to defeat, and that is why it is viciously fighting everyone.”

"I’m doing well. The news is that I’m writing to you from cell 308. I am fully conscious of why I am here. I am not the first to walk this path. Every such path is proof that political persecution cannot achieve its goal. It is impossible to imprison freedom or thought. That is the fundamental mistake of every autocrat and abuser, and it marks the beginning of their downfall. A prisoner is not the one who is physically detained, but the one who is outside and fails to understand the essence of freedom.

My presence here confirms once again that neither I nor my fellow political leaders are in politics for personal comfort. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be here today. This is a struggle for Georgia—for a better and safer future for our children. The regime is doomed to fail. It feels this, which is why it fights everyone so viciously. For many, our path may seem difficult, but the path of truth and victory is never easy.

Negotiation with them is impossible. They have completely lost their credibility and identity. That is why our weapons are: unity, dignity, and the fight to the very end! We will definitely win!" – reads Vashadze’s letter.

For context, Giorgi Vashadze, leader of Strategy Aghmashenebeli, was found guilty by the court on June 24 for failing to comply with a summons from the parliamentary temporary investigative commission. Judge Nino Galustashvili sentenced him to 7 months in prison and barred him from holding public office for 2 years. Vashadze was arrested yesterday at his party's office.