**Opposition Leader’s Letter Sparks Debate Among Georgia’s Political Forces**
In a recent letter from prison, Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” expressed his concern that certain opposition parties have targeted his party and are planning a campaign against it. This has sparked a heated debate among Georgian political forces, with some opposing parties defending their actions and others criticizing them for not standing up to the ruling regime.
**A Reaction from the National Movement**
In response to Khazaradze’s letter, Irakli Pavlenishvili, Deputy General Secretary of the “National Movement,” has come out strongly against opposition parties that are planning to cooperate with the government. According to Pavlenishvili, these parties need to adjust their focus and stop trying to normalize the regime.
“They think they can just sit back and enjoy the benefits of being part of the system while we suffer in prison,” Pavlenishvili said in an interview. “But it doesn’t work that way. When you betray the common fight and protest, you face a reaction from us. It’s not an attack; it’s just a statement of fact.”
**Pavlenishvili Criticizes Parties That Reject Boycott Policy**
Pavlenishvili also criticized parties like “Gakharia for Georgia” that reject the policy of boycott and non-cooperation with the government. He pointed out that these parties are now claiming that the elections are no longer annulled, which he sees as a betrayal of the common fight.
“These people need to adjust their focus,” Pavlenishvili said. “They should be calling on us to do so, not the other way around.”
**A Glimmer of Hope in “Gakharia for Georgia”?**
However, Pavlenishvili did suggest that there may be some glimmer of hope within “Gakharia for Georgia.” He noted that a member of this party, Elguja Khokrishvili, has spoken out against the participation of opposition parties in local elections.
“Gakharia’s party has always had a problem with fully shedding its ‘Georgian Dream’ identity,” Pavlenishvili said. “But it seems like some people within that party are taking a more sensible position.”
**Khazaradze Remains Resolute**
Meanwhile, Khazaradze remains resolute in his commitment to changing the political system and regime in Georgia. In his letter from prison, he wrote that his goal has been and remains to achieve new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners.
“We should not surrender any platform to ‘Georgian Dream’ without a fight,” Khazaradze said. “The Georgian struggle is known for such unequal battles. It’s through these battles that our statehood has been preserved.”
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