"The kind of treatment we saw on television yesterday regarding [Vazha Gaprindashvili] is unacceptable, a disgrace to the nation, and an insult to the medical community. How long must such violence against our own people continue?" wrote Amiran Gamkrelidze, former Director of the National Center for Disease Control, commenting on the detention of doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili during the protest rally on October 22.

As Amiran Gamkrelidze noted, doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili embodies all the qualities that characterize a doctor, which he has proven multiple times to the people and the country.

"Mr. Vazha Gaprindashvili is one of the most distinguished and dignified members of Georgia’s medical community. He stands out for his high professionalism, humanity, honesty, humanism, patriotism, and all the qualities that characterize doctors. Vazha has proven this to his people and country on numerous occasions. The kind of treatment this person received, as we saw on television yesterday, is unacceptable, a disgrace to the nation, and an insult to the medical community. How long must such violence against our own people continue? Can those who order and carry this out truly believe that these people, who have been standing on Rustaveli Avenue for almost a year, are really ‘enemies of the people’? The country is entering a dangerous spiral, and I once again urge decision-makers to sit at the negotiation table and determine steps to de-escalate the situation. There is always a way out. I will repeat what I have written many times: compromise is always a sign of wisdom and the responsibility of the stronger side before the country and its future.

Freedom to Vazha, an outstanding doctor and individual, and to the dozens of other detained citizens alongside him!" wrote Amiran Gamkrelidze on social media.