In this country, state institutions only have nominal names; every agency functions as a “department of Georgian Dream,” all under one conductor issuing directives – Bidzina Ivanishvili, who decides how events in the country should unfold,” commented Giorgi Sioridze, member of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” regarding the prosecution of opposition politicians, including Lelo leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, on charges of sabotage, aiding hostile activities, and inciting the overthrow of the government.

According to Sioridze, the indictment against Khazaradze and Japaridze claims they urged the public to carry out a revolution and forcibly overthrow the government, which he says never occurred.

“Legally, the charges are absurd. The indictment contains weak and illogical statements, making it difficult to draw any rational conclusions. It alleges that last year Mamuka and Badri incited society to a revolution and the forcible overthrow of the government – which simply did not happen.

When the Soviet Union was called a great prison for the peoples, there was some sense to that, and a parallel can be drawn with today’s Georgia. Ivanishvili has turned Georgia into a prison for its people. The Georgian Dream decided to imprison dissenting voices, ban NGOs, restrict political parties, and prohibit political activity. They are drafting draconian, overly harsh, disproportionate, and unconstitutional legislation. We must also remember an important bastion of freedom: the education system and free universities, whose restrictions were announced by Irakli Kobakhidze. Their goal is to imprison politics itself…

Apart from Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze, every other leader is Ivanishvili’s captive, so imposing preventive measures would be meaningless. We also remember the staged actions against Badri and Mamuka, intended to sow discord within the opposition and parts of society,” said Giorgi Sioridze.

According to Sioridze, the renewed prosecution of opposition leaders aims to eliminate political opponents and parties from the political field, leaving the country in a formalized dictatorship and consolidated autocracy.

“The sabotage charges forming the basis of several opposition politicians’ cases also underpin the Georgian Dream’s constitutional complaint. In other words, the case is being handled in parallel by the Constitutional Court and the Prosecutor’s Office to strengthen the prohibition case – in unison. Georgian Dream may believe that confining people within four walls will control them. Mamuka and Badri took the first conscious step by not appearing at the commission and getting arrested. Later, there was talk that they were allowed to leave prison early to participate in elections, yet they were effectively ‘held by their ears.’ The October 4 elections provided neither legitimacy nor normalization for this regime, inside or outside the country. If Georgian Dream wanted Lelo to participate, why did they file a lawsuit just days after the elections?” Sioridze said.

Regarding claims that the new prosecutions are a reaction by the ruling party to the European Commission’s report on Georgia, Sioridze stated that Georgian Dream has neither the standing nor the leverage to pressure the West through crude actions.

“An illegitimate government has long pursued an anti-Western path, officially declared on November 28, 2024. Since then, every step they take opposes the West. They cannot negotiate and are not in a position to compel the West with crude measures, which they publicly denounce. The opposition leaders’ cases and the constitutional complaint state that the opposition worked with international partners, which the regime presents as hostile activity against Georgia. Back in 2011-2012, when Georgian Dream was in opposition, they also worked with partners. They have declared the European Union and its member states hostile – countries that have supported Georgia financially, materially, and institutionally since the restoration of independence. Therefore, the word ‘hostile’ in the indictment changes nothing.

Bidzina Ivanishvili fears the Georgian people and the risks that may threaten his wealth. When we talk about the Georgian people, it implies both political and social consolidation,” Sioridze said.

Sioridze also commented on a statement by Aleko Elisashvili, another Lelo – Strong Georgia leader, claiming that “the idea of boycotting local elections was a Russian special operation.” He emphasized that Elisashvili’s remark was not intended to insult citizens supporting the boycott or the opposition parties advocating it.

“We chose the path we believed was right regarding the October 4 elections. I am convinced that Aleko Elisashvili did not mean that society participated in a Russian operation. We believe the boycott was not the right path, but everyone must take responsibility for their own choices. Ultimately, who benefited does not mean anyone carried out a Russian task, whether a politician or citizen. We do not hold society participating in the boycott accountable,” Giorgi Sioridze said.