**Georgia’s Coalition for Change Speaks Out Against Torture and Cooperation with Russian Regime**
The recent attack on Giorgi Bachiashvili, the former head of the Co-Investment Fund, has sparked outrage in Georgia. Elene Khoshtaria, a leader of the Coalition for Change, has spoken out against the incident, condemning it as a “direct criminal and terrorist act” characteristic of the Russian regime.
Khoshtaria expressed her full support and solidarity with Bachiashvili and his family, stating that the fact of torture is a clear indication of the dangers of cooperating with a regime that engages in such behavior. She emphasized that for years, Russia has been plagued by human rights abuses, including beatings and killings in prisons and on the streets.
**Cooperation with Russian Regime Impossible**
Khoshtaria’s statement highlights the Coalition for Change’s stance against cooperation with the Russian regime. She argues that it is impossible to negotiate or cooperate with a criminal and terrorist regime, and that Bidzina Ivanishvili, a key figure in Georgian politics, has become just such a person.
In her words, “one cannot negotiate and cooperate with a criminal and a terrorist, and that is exactly what Bidzina Ivanishvili is today.” Khoshtaria believes that the only way to bring an end to this system of oppression is through unity, non-cooperation, resistance, and delegitimization of the regime.
**A Message of Unity and Resistance**
The Coalition for Change’s message is clear: Georgians must come together to resist and fight against a regime that engages in such egregious human rights abuses. Khoshtaria’s statement serves as a call to action, urging the Georgian society to stand united against the Russian-backed regime and its tactics.
As she said, “We, together with the Georgian society, will definitely fight together on this path.” This message of unity and resistance is likely to resonate with many in Georgia who are growing increasingly concerned about the country’s trajectory under the current leadership.
