Armaz Akhvlediani: London has shown a “red card” to the illegitimate government, and they know what an angry Britain means. It’s also “Georgian Dream’s” fault that not even Kaja Kallas, but not even her assistant’s assistant is looking in our direction

Bidzina Ivanishvili is well aware of what an angry and resentful United Kingdom means, but the sweetness of power and the pleasure he derives from corruption are so strong that he cannot give them up. The “Damocles’ sword” hanging over him from the Kremlin seems so heavy that he doesn’t even dare make the slightest adjustment to his harmful policies out of fear.

I can say that London has shown a “red card” to Georgia’s illegitimate government, said opposition politician Armaz Akhvlediani on Palitra News’ “Day’s Newsroom,” in response to the UK summoning Georgia’s chargé d’affaires.

Akhvlediani also believes that if necessary, the U.S. and EU countries can “seal every loophole” for individuals linked to Georgian Dream and impose much more serious sanctions.

“The nature of Ivanishvili’s politics is to find some kind of loophole. If necessary, the U.S. and EU can block all these loopholes for the regime. Sanctions would hit them hard financially. Their travels will soon be limited to their neighborhood — and perhaps they’ll have nowhere to go but Russia. We cannot rely solely on the West, which does seem to be preparing significant sanctions that go beyond visa restrictions. We must also rely on ourselves,” he said.

Regarding the visit of the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas to Armenia and Yerevan’s rapprochement with Brussels, Akhvlediani sees this positively and blames Georgian Dream for the fact that “not even Kallas’s assistant’s assistant is looking in Georgia’s direction.”

“Given the subversive actions, insults, and anti-democratic behavior of the Georgian Dream’s abusive government, it’s no surprise that not only Kaja Kallas but even her assistant’s assistant isn’t looking toward Georgia. I’m not surprised. It’s good that Armenia, thanks to Prime Minister Pashinyan, has managed to achieve success on this path. In Azerbaijan, a fierce battle is underway against Kremlin interests, and their influence is being curtailed — while Ivanishvili’s regime is giving the Kremlin free rein here. One thing is clear: no one in London or Washington will accept this harmful regime, the trampling of the Georgian people's will, and the direct implementation of Kremlin interests in Georgia,” Akhvlediani stated.

Speaking about recent events in the country — including the June 29 rally and the statement by eight political parties refusing to participate in the local elections — Akhvlediani said there is still time for the opposition to unite and distance itself from this “shapeless spectacle.”

“We should now see opposition unity in a broader context like never before. We are witnessing that Ivanishvili’s police regime has not only halted democracy but defeated it. They are now systematically extinguishing the remaining ‘hot spots’ that pose a threat to them. That’s the purpose behind all these arrests and the wave of repression. I welcome the decision of such politically significant individuals to end their hunger strike. The opposition’s stance to refuse participation in these so-called elections is also important. What Georgian Dream is doing now has nothing to do with elections. This is a dirty manipulation aimed at maintaining power. Those who still wish to take part in this empty spectacle still have time. There is still time for this part of the opposition to agree and distance itself from the Russian-style government,” he said.

Akhvlediani also criticized opposition parties for lacking a long-term vision of what they would do if Georgian Dream were defeated.

“We all need to start talking about realistic short-term plans. We will only see results if we can unite society around the idea of not just dismantling Ivanishvili’s regime, but also knowing what the opposition should do afterward if it comes to power. I haven’t seen such statements yet. Ivanishvili continues his oppressive actions with great effectiveness, while the opposing side fights back only with promises and vague alliances. I’m against that. Many people attended the June 29 rally, but there would have been many more if opposition politicians didn’t provoke such antipathy,” Akhvlediani said.

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