“The phrase directed at politicians — ‘overcome your fear’ — concerns all of us who are free. It concerns absolutely everyone, because we have a greater moral and political responsibility,” said Irakli Favlenishvili, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, on PalitraNews’ program 360 Degrees, responding to Levan Khabeishvili’s statement made during his court hearing.

According to Favlenishvili, when Khabeishvili spoke about unity, he meant a large-scale type of protest that would not be a one-time event or limited to a march.

“When Levan Khabeishvili spoke about fear, of course every politician has fear — what person doesn’t? He himself said he had fear and overcame it. If you are asking which specific individuals he was more irritated with, those who would be more affected by certain terms — those people are not me or my friends, and I state this with full responsibility. Levan has never meant his friends or closest circle in this context. On the contrary, he thought: we are not like that — they are the ones like that.

In general, the statement to politicians — ‘overcome your fear’ — concerns all of us who are free. This is not only about UNM, the ‘Akhali’ party, ‘Lelo,’ or Gakharia. It concerns absolutely everyone, because we have a greater moral and political responsibility.

When we talk about unity, the only thing that would be most effective is for all of us who remain in opposition to gather and plan a relatively large-scale protest, which will not be a one-time event or limited to a march. This is Levan’s idea,” Favlenishvili said.

For reference, during his court hearing, UNM Political Council Chair Levan Khabeishvili addressed opposition politicians:

“I don’t want to go to prison either — prison is very dangerous — but you must overcome the fear within yourselves, because Georgia’s fate is being decided today. Open your ears! Come to your senses! Have the courage and show up, instead of bragging on TV about ‘unity.’ Every day the situation is getting worse. How do you sleep at night? — You go home at night and drink cappuccino?” Khabeishvili said.