According to Nika Gvaramia, leader of the Coalition for Change, there is and can be no justification for not including former President Mikheil Saakashvili on the list of political prisoners.

Gvaramia expressed hope that “the mistake will be corrected.”

“I have tremendous respect for Transparency International Georgia and the greatest appreciation for its work, both as a fearless and tireless defender of the interests of our homeland and for the assistance it has provided to countless citizens, including me personally.

But there is no justification, and there can be none, for not including Misha Saakashvili on the list of political prisoners. I believe it is a serious mistake and hope it will be corrected,” Gvaramia wrote in a Facebook post.

According to an updated report published by the non-governmental organization Transparency International Georgia, there are 91 political prisoners in Georgia. The organization said that all 91 individuals included on the list meet the criteria for political prisoners established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The list concerns 91 convicted and accused individuals who are currently in detention.