“I refuse to defend myself, I refuse to appear in court, and I ask everyone not to worry or come,” Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa party, posted on her Facebook page.

According to Khoshtaria, who was detained on September 15 on the charges of damage to another person’s property, participation in what she describes as a farce is entirely unacceptable.

“Today, a ‘trustworthy man’ entered the detention centre, with a carefully shaved beard and tidy appearance. I greeted him, but within minutes, this ‘trustworthy man’ transformed into a symbol of the Russian system, which I watched with a heavy heart. In all seriousness, he proceeded to read me the ‘charges,’ the very sound of these accusations made me feel an overwhelming urge to laugh. He genuinely believed he was doing something serious. Of course, I put an end to this spectacle.

I want you to understand, especially my friends and supporters. I consider it entirely unacceptable to participate in this farce, not even by a millimetre. Besides the fact that it is a matter of self-respect to dismiss the ‘significance of the stain size on the banner,’ even engaging with their lies, even slightly, merely serves to get us used to deception, and I refuse to do that.

Therefore, I am refusing to defend myself, I will not appear in court, and I kindly ask everyone not to trouble themselves or attend. Let them sew, cut, write, and read; I am not concerned. Many thanks to my lawyer, Shota Tutberidze, who has supported me through this unusual process. I am committed to the end,” Elene Khoshtaria wrote.