The Ivanishvili regime has failed to gain legitimacy both domestically and internationally, opposition politician Teona Akubardia stated.

She commented on a statement by Georgian Dream MP Archil Gorduladze, according to which a person who does not recognize the legitimacy of constitutional bodies and publicly calls for such actions may face criminal liability.

According to Akubardia, “delegitimization” is what troubles Georgian Dream the most.

“The false debate they have introduced, on the one hand, aimed to create an opportunity to gain legitimacy and to demonstrate this to their own electorate, which I believe is impossible, and on the other hand, to punish every citizen who questions their legitimacy. What we are talking about here is the legitimacy of the regime, not the state - and this is the false attempt we are witnessing now. I do not think they will be able to imprison all members of the government from the time of Zviad Gamsakhurdia using this law. I do not think they will be able to send every citizen to prison simply because they lack legitimacy and will continue to lack it. I believe this is about creating the preconditions for punishment. Everything will depend on us and our resistance - how far they will be able to go with these illegal laws and threats they are putting forward. What they are saying is absurd, including from a legal standpoint. Ultimately, this shows that delegitimization is what concerns Georgian Dream the most, even though until now they have not openly acknowledged it,” Akubardia said.

As she noted, Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia’s fifth president, also poses a problem for the authorities, which is why legislative changes may also be directed against her.

“Salome Zurabishvili was named as the first target by Shalva Papuashvili himself. It is clear that Salome Zurabishvili is a problem for them. She has no difficulty communicating with Western partners, she has not left the country, and she continues to resist. Accordingly, whether it is Salome Zurabishvili, the 70 MPs who did not grant legitimacy to the Ivanishvili regime, or any citizen at all - we will all be targets. But that does not mean we will stop resisting,” Akubardia said at a forum organized by Freedom Square and the Georgian Public Assembly.