“We were released for one reason and one reason only – to create confrontation and unleash the so-called black propaganda and PR campaign, which will not succeed for them,” said Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the leaders of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” to journalists after leaving the penitentiary facility.
As he noted, what Mikheil Kavelashvili did today is a legal absurdity and manipulation of people’s freedom.
“The release of me and Badri Japaridze today, which we absolutely did not expect – we were waiting for the eight-month term to expire – was done for one reason only: to create confrontation and unleash the so-called black propaganda and PR campaign, which will not succeed. Because what the so-called president did today is a legal absurdity, it is manipulation of people’s freedom, it is trampling on the law, it is trading in human beings. If, in the coming days, the so-called president does not release the remaining political prisoners who are imprisoned under the exact same article, it will be yet another glaring confirmation that Bidzina Ivanishvili, ‘Georgian Dream,’ and his president are using Georgia’s legislation for their personal interests. This will be another clear example for the world, for the democratic world, that these people must be removed from power as quickly as possible,” Khazaradze stated.
Mikheil Kavelashvili issued a statement today regarding the pardon of the leaders of the “Strong Georgia – Lelo” party, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. As Kavelashvili stated, “Despite various circumstances, the President made this decision to ensure that no one has even the slightest pretext to claim that the local self-government elections are being held under conditions of limited competitiveness.”
For reference, the leaders of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, were detained at the party’s office on June 23. Their detention was based on a decision by Judge Zviad Sharadze, who found both leaders guilty of failing to comply with the demands of the Parliament’s temporary investigative commission.
They were sentenced to eight months of imprisonment and banned from holding office for two years.
Mamuka Khazaradze: We were released for one reason and one reason only – to create confrontation, to unleash the so-called black propaganda and PR campaign, which will not succeed for them
