**Georgian Opposition Leader Defies Prison Sentence, Calls for Unity**
In a bold move, Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the Strategy Builder party, has responded to his prison sentence with defiance and a call for unity. Speaking at a briefing, Vashadze addressed Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian billionaire businessman and politician, calling him the “enemy of this country”.
The court had found Vashadze guilty of failing to comply with the request of the temporary investigative commission of the Parliament, and he was sentenced to 7 months in prison, along with a 2-year ban on holding office. However, Vashadze did not attend the pronouncement of the judgement, as his lawyer requested that the judge postpone the hearing until the stage of the defendant’s final statement.
**A Message of Hope and Resistance**
Vashadze’s response to the prison sentence was one of hope and resistance. He emphasized that only unity can accelerate victory, and called on the public to stand together against the “regime” that he believes is doomed to failure. He also highlighted the injustices that are happening in the country, including the imprisonment of young people and women.
“The regime, doomed to failure, has made a decision,” Vashadze said. “But our imprisonment is nothing compared to the injustice that is happening in the country. It is a total injustice… We continue to fight. This decision, personally me, and all my teammates who are gathered here, strengthens us even more, shows us that we are on the right path.”
**A Challenge to Ivanishvili**
Vashadze’s message was also a direct challenge to Ivanishvili, whom he accused of being the person who wants to lock up not only him but the entire country in prison. He emphasized that the Georgian people will definitely win this battle, and that the regime will never be able to break them.
“You are the enemy of this country!” Vashadze exclaimed. “You are the person who wants to lock up not only me but the entire country in prison… You think you can scare us with imprisonment?! No one is afraid of you! You and your entire entourage are nothing!”
**A Call for Unity**
Vashadze’s final message was a call for unity, emphasizing that it is the key to accelerating victory. “Unity, unity, and once again unity,” he said. “Only with unity can we accelerate victory.”
As the opposition leader faces prison time, his defiance and message of hope are likely to inspire many in Georgia who are fighting against what they see as an unjust regime. The question now is whether the public will respond to Vashadze’s call for unity, and if so, what impact it will have on the country’s future.
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