A meeting between representatives of the opposition and the government is underway at the Presidential Administration. The President of the European Council Charles Michel, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, will attend the meeting.

Georgian Public Broadcaster journalist reports that Irma Inashvili, Giga Bokeria, Davit Bakradze, Salome Samadashvili, Aleko Elisashvili, Mamuka Khazaradze, Shalva Natelashvili, Zurab Japaridze and other members of the opposition arrived at the Presidential Administration.

According to Davit Bakradze, they will try to find a solution that will be better for the country. Bakradze says that “Nika Melia, Giorgi Rurua should be released, and political persecution should stop.”

“We agreed to the meeting even though Nika Melia was arrested and the government practically closed the door to dialogue. We are here, and we will try to find a solution that will be better for the country. We think we should first fix what went wrong the previous week. Nika Melia should be released, political persecution should be stopped, and Giorgi Rurua should be released. Against this background, let us continue talking about political issues. First of all, the status quo must be restored. The arrest of Nika Melia violated the status quo,” Bakradze said.

According to Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the Lelo party, both sides should be determined in two weeks to reach an agreement on the conditions set by the opposition.

“I think we should make every effort to call new elections, end political justice in the country and start pulling the country out of the crisis,” said Mamuka Khazaradze.

According to Irma Inashvili, leader of the Alliance of Patriots, they should agree on calling new elections, changing the electoral system and the environment.

“A plebiscite is unacceptable for our political team. It will be rigged the same as elections. The solution is to call new elections, to change the entire electoral system, the environment,” said Irma Inashvili.

European Council President Charles Michel declared at a joint news conference with the Georgian Prime Minister that he invited all parties to a meeting on Monday. He said it was time to move from facilitation to mediation and political dialogue.

The Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili noted that he is ready to meet with the opposition. Gharibashvili thanked the President of the European Council for the initiative.