“When you make such an offer to a Russian-style regime, such a humiliating response is natural and the only possible one,” said one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Zurab Japaridze, commenting on a statement by the Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili. Papuashvili had responded to Lelo’s proposal to begin dialogue, saying that “Georgian Dream” and “Lelo” have nothing to discuss with each other.

According to Japaridze, as he wrote on social media, when such a political step is taken for the second or third time, it creates suspicion among people that even in the 14th year of Georgian Dream’s de facto rule, there is still no full understanding of what kind of regime they are fighting.

“When you make such an offer to a Russian-type regime, such a humiliating response is natural and the only possible one. It is impossible for this to bring any positive outcome either for the common struggle or for Lelo itself. Despite such a response, when you take similar political steps for the second or third time, it raises doubts among people that even in the 14th year of Georgian Dream’s de facto rule you still do not fully understand what kind of regime you are fighting and, for some reason, expect a different response from the regime every time.

Yesterday on Rustaveli Avenue, I had to convince about ten people that this statement by Lelo was not a coordinated game with Bidzina. Those whom I could not convince, I asked to wait until this morning and see Georgian Dream’s response. Well, here is the response,” Japaridze wrote on social media.

For reference, Lelo – Strong Georgia issued a statement saying that it is necessary to overcome confrontation and begin responsible political negotiations between Georgian Dream and opposition parties.

In response, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated that “Lelo has nothing to discuss with Georgian Dream, and Georgian Dream has nothing to discuss with Lelo.” According to him, “they should speak to the Constitutional Court, and some of their members to the criminal court, where cases related to them are being considered.”