“How can an opposition win when it attempts to belittle me just to assert itself?” the former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, declared during his court hearing.

Saakashvili argues that the current opposition is failing to meet the criteria for victory. The former president asserted that they cannot defeat a dictatorship in their current configuration.

“Ivanishvili’s regime can be toppled by a simmering from within. Is this public simmering at a sufficient level? This is a simmering over poverty, over corruption. We are not feeling this ferment enough. The current opposition is failing to meet the criteria for victory. In its current configuration, the opposition cannot defeat a dictatorship. How can an opposition win when it attempts to belittle me to assert itself?

Lelo is just a business venture for Badri [Japaridze] and Mamuka [Khazaradze]. And Ahali, let’s be honest, was established from the outset as a Gilauri brothers project, not to achieve victory, but to split the United National Movement’s vote. In addition, several minor business ventures operate merely as political leverage for investors dealing with the regime, rather than being oriented towards victory. The United National Movement carries the vision of a successful Georgian state, but I’m concerned there may be a communication issue. We cannot pull through like this; this is a direct recipe for defeat.

People say decisions are made within a closed circle and that Misha is isolated. I have heard this even from my friends. A leader is a leader because their opinion matters. I have neither dismissed anyone nor appointed anyone; I expressed an opinion, which you may choose to agree with or not. Ivanishvili stands on money and violence. Tell me, have I taken money from either, or have I used violence against anyone? If you are not a leader, no one will take your opinion into account. Arguing over party positions is absolute madness.

There are five leverage points to defeat the regime: the street front, the anti-propaganda front, the anti-corruption front, the foreign front, and the technological front. We must upend them using new technologies. I cannot agree with Nika Gvaramia’s view regarding October 4; October 4 was not a momentary lapse of reason; it was the defiant struggle of 200,000 people,” Mikheil Saakashvili stated.