This [Anti-Corruption Bureau’s] monitoring serves only political retribution – this retribution does not mean the regime is targeting Khazaradze (or even Gakharia on other charges) because they are participating in elections; on the contrary, this persecution is needed by the ruling party to convince us that it is deeply troubled and afraid of competition from these two parties – Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zurabishvili, wrote on social media, responding to the fact that the Anti-Corruption Bureau has started reviewing the asset declaration of Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” coalition.

As Zurabishvili writes, in reality, “Georgian Dream” is trying to convince us that it has serious competitors in these elections and needs to suppress them.

“In the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s statement, we read: ‘Every citizen of Georgia has the right to know whether there has been a disregard for legal requirements, especially in cases involving individuals of high public interest.’

This statement was made in connection with the start of monitoring Mamuka Khazaradze.

But why doesn’t ‘every citizen’ have the right to know about the corrupt schemes involving hundreds of millions by high-ranking officials, the reasons for their arrests or releases, and, most importantly, where the funds they ‘deliver’ go instead of the budget (where they are not reflected)?

Only then will we believe in the impartiality of this Bureau and Mr. Razhden!

Until then, it is crystal clear that this monitoring serves only political retribution.

This retribution does not mean the regime is targeting Khazaradze (or even Gakharia on other charges) because they are participating in elections; on the contrary, this persecution is needed by the ruling party to convince us that it is deeply troubled and afraid of competition from these two parties.

The intensified repressions against them only confirm, in the eyes of their leaders, the correctness of their decisions and instill the belief that there is no other path to victory and that no one else can achieve it. This belief strengthens with every new attack orchestrated by the regime. The case initiated against Aleko Elisashvili with the assistance of the Russian Prosecutor’s Office serves the same purpose… as if there were no other strong Georgian fighters on the Ukrainian front who would have attracted such attention from Russia.

In reality, ‘Georgian Dream’ is trying to convince us that it has serious competitors in these elections and needs to suppress them. By doing so, it convinces its targeted competitors of the correctness of their decisions and that they have a serious chance of ‘winning the mayor’s office.’ This belief is necessary to ensure participation retains its meaning.

In reality, the regime is not afraid of the parties’ participation but of society itself.

It needs to simulate participation not for any legitimacy (which nothing can restore for it from now on) but to block the formation of a potential third force in the future. Its ultimate delegitimization is balanced by the final discreditation of these parties. The political ground is cleared, leaving no force other than the ‘National Movement’ and ‘Georgian Dream.’

It is time to break out of this trap,” Zurabishvili writes.

For reference, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has started monitoring the asset declaration of Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the “Lelo – Strong Georgia” coalition. According to the disseminated information, the monitoring focuses on the accuracy of the data reflected in the declaration concerning real estate owned by a member of Mamuka Khazaradze’s family and the contracts related to that property.

According to the same source, particular attention is given to the circumstance of why an agreement concluded by a member of Mamuka Khazaradze’s family with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany was not reflected in the declaration.