“Every citizen should be proud that their persistent and difficult struggle, which may seem untouchable and whose impact may not be immediately felt, is already showing clear signs of producing results. Ultimately, once a regime begins to fracture, it is inevitable that this process will bring it to an end. We simply need to patiently continue doing the same thing until the very end,” Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria said in an audio message sent from prison and distributed by her press office.

According to Khoshtaria, the signs of the regime’s collapse are already evident, while Garibashvili’s letters, from the perspective of the state, represent “unconcealed recklessness and criminal illegality that is not even being disguised.”

“Garibashvili’s crisis and his letters should be assessed from two perspectives. The first is from the standpoint of the state. From that perspective, of course, this is unconcealed recklessness and criminal illegality. They are not even trying to disguise it or hide the fact that they are acting according to criminal rules.

“From a state perspective, Irakli Garibashvili is, of course, a victim at this particular moment. The violation of his rights is unacceptable, and it makes absolutely no difference how we view him politically. It also does not matter whether or not this is part of a political game. The fact is that his rights are being violated, period.

“As for the political context, this clearly indicates a very noticeable rift within Georgian Dream. If you remember, we have often said that the path to victory is not standard or simple. It is not a situation where you know there will be elections, you win them and the government leaves, or where there is a revolution and everything ends that very day.

“But what is specific, clear and characteristic of dictatorships is the path of systemic destabilization and, consequently, ultimate collapse. This collapse of the system is clearly visible, and it is evident in the fact that the most prominent political figures are accusing one another of murder. These are no longer minor shifts. This is a genuine fracture.

“And this has come through three specific avenues. The first and the foundation of everything is non-recognition - the fact that the political class has not recognized this government in any respect. This created the basis both for international non-recognition and for the protest movement, because it prevented them from legitimizing this stolen government by calling it a government. So, non-recognition lies at the foundation of this fracture. It has created a permanent crisis for them.

“The second, and probably the most important, is the protest movement, which they thought would gradually die down. But it has not subsided by any means. This, too, is a way of sustaining the crisis.

“I want to emphasize one thing here: we often say, ‘What is the point of going out to this protest? What is the point of going out again? What difference does it make whether there are 300,000 or 500,000 of us if nothing changes? What is the point of refusing to enter parliament? What is the point of sanctions being imposed?’

“Here is the key: a regime does not end because of a single protest. But the cumulative effect of these protests - the cumulative effect of non-recognition, disobedience and taking to the streets for so many days - collectively creates the force that breaks the system.

“So, when you go out today, you may think that it produces no result, but it is being added to the piggy bank that is breaking the system.

“And, of course, the third and most important tool in this struggle is international sanctions. But international sanctions come only as a result of our refusal to cooperate with the regime and our refusal to recognize it, as well as the continuation of endless protests.

“Therefore, I very much want every citizen, beyond the general assessment of what is happening within Georgian Dream now, to be proud that their persistent, difficult and seemingly untouchable struggle - one whose impact you may not feel immediately - is already showing clear signs of producing results.

“Ultimately, once a fracture begins, it is inevitable that it will bring the regime to an end. We simply need to patiently continue doing the same thing until the very end,” Khoshtaria said.