**Georgian Opposition Leader Speaks Out Against “Soviet-Style” Repression**
A prominent opposition leader in Georgia has spoken out against what he sees as a “Soviet-style” attempt to silence a dissident by questioning her sanity. Nika Gvaramia, the imprisoned leader of the “Coalition for Change,” expressed his outrage in a letter shared on his Facebook page.
Gvaramia was responding to the court’s decision to transfer detained activist Nino Datashvili to a psychiatric facility. This move has been criticized by many as an attempt to silence a vocal critic of the government. Gvaramia’s letter was a scathing condemnation of this action, comparing it to the tactics used by the Soviet Union to suppress dissent.
**A Familiar Tactic from the Soviet Era**
Gvaramia wrote that there is “nothing more Soviet” than questioning a dissident’s sanity as a way to silence them. This tactic was used extensively during the Soviet era to discredit and punish critics of the government. In his letter, Gvaramia mentioned the case of writer Nazi Shamanauri, who was locked away in a psychiatric institution in Moscow and later died under mysterious circumstances.
**A Blow to Freedom and Justice**
Gvaramia’s comments highlight the severity of this action, which he sees as an attempt to silence Nino Datashvili for her views. “There is no form of imprisonment worse than this!” he wrote. The fact that a court has approved the transfer of a detained activist to a psychiatric facility without due process is a worrying sign for freedom and justice in Georgia.
**The Oligarchy Must Fall**
Gvaramia’s letter concludes with a call to action: “Freedom for Nino! The oligarchy must fall!” This statement reflects the widespread frustration among Georgians with the country’s current leadership. Many see the government as being out of touch with the needs and aspirations of the people.
**A Closer Look**
This incident highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice in Georgia. The use of psychiatric institutions to silence critics is a disturbing reminder of the tactics used by authoritarian regimes. As Gvaramia’s letter shows, this move has been met with widespread condemnation from opposition leaders and human rights groups.
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