The Chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili, is urging his lawyers not to request a review of his pre-trial detention at any stage.

As Khabeishvili stated during today’s court hearing, he has “nothing to ask” from those who “poisoned the population with chemical weapons.”

He also said that he has become “used to being in solitary confinement, in a dungeon.”

“From those people who, like in Chernobyl, poisoned the population with chemical weapons - pregnant women, small children - I have nothing to request, to beg them: ‘Please change my preventive measure.’

I am in solitary confinement, like a test rat. I can see my children once every three months - this is their idea of humanity. I cannot see my young children when they need their father. I see them once every four months with special permission.

The verdict has already been issued. Mamuka Mdinaradze already announced it, and they will keep me in custody. That’s why I want to tell my lawyers that I’ve gotten used to solitary confinement, being in a dungeon. This is psychological pressure - you must look at the sky through so‑called grids! I have no interest in going before this chemical ‘troika’: Kobakhidze, Mdinaradze, Ivanishvili,” Khabeishvili said.

Khabeishvili also addressed the charges brought against him:

“As for the charge - if my offer to GDD, to a teacher, is considered a bribe, then back in 2018 Ivanishvili paid off people’s debts through his foundation - that is what a bribe is.

The second charge is about overthrowing the government - I don’t understand, am I in prison because of a word? ‘Peaceful overthrow’ was a slogan of a peaceful protest. Do you really think someone meant we should literally kick someone? It was about the peaceful removal of Ivanishvili, not the government. There is not a single sentence where I call for violence,” Khabeishvili said.