**Georgian Opposition Leader Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison**
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of Lelo – Strong Georgia, has been sentenced to 8 months in prison for failing to appear before the Parliament’s temporary investigative commission. The ruling comes as no surprise given the increasingly tense relationship between the opposition and the government.
**A Call to Action**
During a meeting with party members at their office, Khazaradze delivered an impassioned speech, urging his followers not to give up in the face of adversity. “To hell with anyone who gets scared of Bidzina!” he exclaimed, referring to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the wealthy businessman and politician widely seen as the driving force behind the government’s authoritarian tendencies.
**The Opposition Under Fire**
It is worth noting that all party leaders are currently in prison or facing similar charges. This has led to widespread speculation that the government is trying to silence the opposition through targeted arrests and harassment. Khazaradze himself was found guilty of failing to comply with a request from the Parliament’s temporary investigative commission, which many see as a thinly veiled attempt to discredit him.
**A Message of Hope**
Despite the dire circumstances, Khazaradze remains defiant, calling on his followers to “mobilize” and continue the fight against the government. “We can take back Tbilisi,” he declared, referencing the capital city where protests have been ongoing for months. “Every leader of every party is in prison today. But we still have hope that the protest movement will unite, and we’ll get rid of them.”
**A Fight to the Finish**
The court’s ruling has only served to galvanize the opposition, who see it as a clear attempt to undermine their efforts. As Khazaradze so eloquently put it, “the fight is not over.” With the opposition under siege and the government determined to silence them, it remains to be seen how this saga will play out.
Read More @ www.interpressnews.ge
