Ana Tsitlidze: Mikheil Saakashvili's imprisonment is a national disgrace for the country - we spent 14 years going in circles regarding opposition unity and saw that the only person Ivanishvili fears is Saakashvili; only he can put an end to the oligarchic regime
"Mikheil Saakashvili's imprisonment is not just an issue for a single political party; it is a national disgrace for the country. Defeating the regime is possible, and the path to doing so lies solely in Mikheil Saakashvili's freedom. We spent 14 years going in circles regarding opposition unity and saw that the only person Bidzina Ivanishvili fears—even while he is locked in prison—is Mikheil Saakashvili, and only he can end the oligarchic regime," Ana Tsitlidze, a leader of the United National Movement, stated at a protest rally marking the anniversary of the imprisonment of Georgia's third president, Mikheil Saakashvili.
She added that the National Movement is the only party within the opposition spectrum that has fought continuously since 2012 without selling out or surrendering. He also noted that Mikheil Saakashvili does not represent the past, "the idea of Georgia’s freedom and development cannot be the past."
"The Russian regime has been ruling the country for 14 years. For exactly five years, the regime has been trying to convince Georgian citizens that the case of Mikheil Saakashvili is merely the problem of a single individual and a single political party. For 14 years, the regime has sought to destroy everything associated with the names of Mikheil Saakashvili and the 'National Movement.' It attempts to kill the 'United National Movement'—the legacy and achievement of the Rose Revolution—as well as the very idea of a free, united, and strong state. For 14 years, the Russian regime has subjected the 'United National Movement'—the most loyal, combative, and uncompromised party in the entire opposition spectrum—to unprecedented repression. Along with Misha, the 'United National Movement' is the only party to have had three of its leaders imprisoned in less than a year. Among those in prison are Levan Khabeishvili, Irakli Nadiradze, Giorgi Baramidze, Bacho Akhalaia, Zviad Kuprava, and many others. Despite these repressions, the regime failed to break us. It could break neither Mikheil Saakashvili nor the United National Movement. It could do nothing to diminish Mikheil Saakashvili’s name or the United National Movement; it could not kill the idea of a united, strong, and free Georgia, nor the fighting spirit. Mikheil Saakashvili’s imprisonment is not merely the story of a single political party; it is a national disgrace for this country. Regardless of your political affiliation or preferences, if you have come to terms with the fact that Georgia’s third president is sitting in prison—imprisoned at the behest of the Russians, a man who first raised the European Union flag, resisted Russian occupation, and proudly led Georgia along the path of development for nine years—then it means you have accepted Russian occupation and have renounced the idea of a strong Georgia and the country’s five-cross flag”, she said.
