“Bidzina, you’ve got some guts, don’t you? You trust your Russian team, so wait for us, let’s face off on October 4,” said Levan Khabeishvili, Chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement, addressing Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of “Georgian Dream.”

According to Khabeishvili, the charges brought against Lasha Tsanava, a member of the United National Movement, are absurd, and they will fight for the truth until the end.

“To Okhanashvili, Mdinadze, Kobakhidze—sorry, I’m really sorry, but I have to say it—they think everyone is as low as they are. Lasha Tsanava is my friend, a person who protected my safety and was my shield and neck: attacks by ‘titushky,’ stone-throwing, someone being sent, eggs and stones being thrown. My friend, my comrade-in-arms, Lasha Tsanava was always by my side. Before they detained Tsanava, the Ministry of Internal Affairs wrote on their page that ‘the prison door has opened for Levan Khabeishvili.’ That very evening, the SSS abducted Lasha Tsanava. The public needs to understand that the charge they’re accusing him of—attempted fraud, not even fraud itself—is not something the SSS handles. This is a police matter, yet they took him to the SSS. They couldn’t intimidate Lasha Tsanava, not even when they offered him a lot of money and said, ‘You know, we have some fabricated footage here, so choose: nine years or spy on Khabeishvili and tell us where he’s going.’ They told him to betray his friend so that ‘Fokhanashvili,’ ‘Jeka,’ Mdinadze, and Kobakhidze could catch Khabeishvili and portray him as brutal, planning a revolution. By the way, they’ll later use this to manipulate certain opposition figures. You’ve made a huge mistake, a huge one! There are no cowards or traitors like you by my side. By my side are Georgia’s patriots, brave guys, and not just a few. Lasha Tsanava walked into his cell with his head held high and with dignity. Of course, we will continue his fight, and no one is afraid,” Khabeishvili stated.

He addressed Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of “Georgian Dream,” urging him to face off in the elections on October 4.

“Bidzina, you’ve put up your lackeys, haven’t you? Come on, let’s face off if you’re so tough. Us, the Georgian people, against you and your ‘Russians.’ Come on, if you’ve got the guts, wait for us; we’re not asking for much time. Wait for us until October 4. I appeal to the public: on October 4, it’s crucial that no one stays home. The more of us there are, the easier and more peacefully we will defeat and send off this government. October 4 is the date of the Georgian people’s victory. The fact that you’re afraid of this date is obvious from your trembling. You can’t pin any charges on me, you can’t threaten me with prison, and I’ll tell you more—I’m not going to prison anywhere,” Khabeishvili declared.