It is unfortunate and alarming that every time, the protection of the rights of people in prisons and achieving that elementary right, which is the right to health protection, happens after a big struggle, - this was stated by Lana Galdava, member of “Lelo - Strong Georgia,” during her appearance on the “PalitraNews” program “Day’s Newsroom,” commenting on the transfer of “Droa” leader Elene Khoshtaria from the penitentiary institution to “Vivamedi” clinic for treatment.

As Galdava noted, Elene Khoshtaria is a victim of political justice, and revenge and pressure against her continue.

“It is unfortunate and alarming that every time, the protection of human rights, the protection of the rights of people in prisons, especially of a person who is truly a victim of political justice, and the achievement of that elementary right, which is the right to health protection, happens after a big struggle.

As for the charge against Elene Khoshtaria herself, there is also a lot of ambiguity in this part. The act that Elene committed, that is, writing on an election banner within the framework of her freedom of expression and support for another woman, absolutely did not envisage a prison sentence. At most, it could have been qualified as an administrative offense, and accordingly, there should have been an adequate administrative responsibility. But because it is specifically Elene Khoshtaria, because she is a female politician, this happened. From the very beginning, her imprisonment raises a lot of questions. She is, of course, a victim of political justice. At this moment, the fact that she was not given proper attention in the penitentiary system and that she was transferred to a medical facility only as a result of so much effort means that revenge and pressure against her continue,” Lana Galdava stated.

In addition, a member of “Lelo - Strong Georgia” assessed the report of the UN Human Rights Council, which talks about the state of human rights in Georgia.

“They didn’t say anything new yesterday in Geneva at the Human Rights Council. The recommendations, advice, and instructions of the High Commissioner were also published on what needs to be done. They didn’t say anything new that our coalition, ‘Lelo - Strong Georgia,’ hasn’t said. Also, what even the Ombudsman in Georgia hasn’t said in his report, which was quite critical. But it is unfortunate that ‘Georgian Dream’ does not take any of this into account.

The situation in terms of human rights protection is very difficult and there is a generally downward dynamic in the country. This is not only violations of freedom of assembly and expression. There are also human rights violations during the detention process, in the vehicles of law enforcement agencies, in temporary detention cells, and then inside the penitentiary institution. At the same time, there is talk about the repeal of repressive legislation. Separately, the situation in the occupied territories is highlighted. This is in the direction of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. We see that annexation processes in the Tskhinvali region are deepening more and more. If earlier there was talk about relations between the puppet regime and the Russian Federation, now there is talk of deep integration.

As for what ‘Georgian Dream’ will take into account and what it will not, today they are still in the majority and still represent the government of Georgia. They have taken sole power, so the responsibility for everything is fully theirs. The ball is on their side.

The sentences of prisoners do not need to be reviewed; politically motivated cases need to be completely terminated. These half-done things that ‘Georgian Dream’ is trying to claim as its achievements, that they have done something in this direction, do not change the given situation. The given situation is that people were standing on the streets within the framework of the freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution. According to the Constitution, we have the right to our freedom of expression. We did not violate the laws that exist in this country. Violence was carried out against us. Violence was carried out not only against protesters, but also against representatives of the free profession. Also against those who were covering this situation. When we saw the most brutal violence in live broadcasts against journalists and cameramen, there was no result. Here we have already reached the point where all this is facade, superficial measures. They know what the reciprocal steps are: the release of political prisoners, the start of talks about fair and competitive elections, the withdrawal of repressive and anti-state legislation. This is the termination of politically motivated cases that are in the courts,” Galdava stated.

In addition, she assessed the decision of Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“They say about everything that this is the result of a multi-vector foreign policy, that they have good relations with everyone. Does anyone say that Georgia should not have good relations with any country?! The more partners we have, the better for our country, but replacing strategic partners with partnerships with other countries, countries that themselves have confrontation with the Western world, is dangerous for our country. If Pashinyan goes, Pashinyan goes to Rubio, and Ursula von der Leyen sits in her own country. Therefore, this comparison is asymmetrical and wrong. Today, Armenia is the flagship of democratic processes. No one from our coalition says that we should not have relations with China. The national interest of our country is integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. This is embedded in Georgia’s National Security Concept and in Georgia’s Constitution. Accordingly, this is an obligation. Every person who is responsible for the agencies existing in this country must first of all act in accordance with Georgia’s national interests.

Of course, regional partnership, partnership with Central Asian countries, partnership with China is interesting from an economic point of view. But why is there no progress in the direction of Anaklia? - because all this is developing incorrectly. We say that we want partnership with everyone. We say that from every partnership, something that is beneficial for our country can emerge, but our country’s main partners, who have worked for decades so that this country would have territorial integrity, sovereignty, economic stability, education, exchange programs, and people-to-people relations, these countries were the US and EU countries, the non-EU country Great Britain. There is more Georgian product ordered on ‘Temu’ from China than investment coming from China,” Galdava stated.