“In a situation where our members are in prison, our two founding leaders are once again facing the threat of imprisonment, and dozens of people are currently detained because of their political beliefs and activities — it is not surprising that Giorgi Gakharia, the former Prime Minister, has also been charged. I think everyone expected this,” said Grigol Gegelia, one of the leaders of Lelo – Strong Georgia, commenting on the launch of criminal prosecution against former Prime Minister and For Georgia party leader Giorgi Gakharia.

According to Gegelia, this represents “a continuation of political repression by a regime that has entered the phase of forming a full-fledged dictatorship.”

“When our members are in prison, when our two founding leaders again face the threat of imprisonment, when dozens of people are behind bars for their political views and activities — it’s not surprising that Giorgi Gakharia, the former Prime Minister, has also been charged, something everyone anticipated. This is a continuation of political repression by a regime that has effectively transitioned into the phase of establishing a full-fledged dictatorship.

What’s most tragicomic in all this is that the same ‘Georgian Dream’ members — the same people now accusing Gakharia of actions harmful to the country — are the ones who appointed him as Prime Minister, entrusting him with national security, the economy, domestic and foreign policy, and every key direction.

Now they claim that he was engaged in harmful activities even before that. This once again highlights the paranoia and absurdity that characterizes the Russian-style regime of Georgian Dream,” Gegelia stated.

He also commented on the transfer of Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, from the “Vivamedi” clinic back to a penitentiary facility, noting that “there is nothing surprising about one of the political prisoners being in jail.”

“Today, the entire country is in captivity — not only opposition politicians, activists, and citizens, but millions of Georgians who have been deprived of their state, European future, and constitution. They fully understand the gravity of the situation.

In such circumstances, I think it’s less relevant who is in a clinic and who is in prison. Today, millions of people live in captivity, and specific individuals are in jail because of their political views. For me, the most important thing is the release of all these people, not determining who is being held where.

It’s not surprising that one of the political prisoners is also in prison, given that virtually all opposition leaders are currently imprisoned — once again, for their political beliefs,” Gegelia said.