The loss of power through fair elections is the red line for the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party rather than early elections, said Zurab Japaridze, leader of the opposition Girchi-More Freedom party.

Japaridze commented on the mediation by Christian Danielsson, a special envoy of the European Council President, in the negotiations between the GD and opposition parties to resolve the Georgian political crisis. “The political crisis deepened and reached catastrophic scales,” Zurab Japaridze said.

He claimed that the country faced numerous problems amid the pandemic, halted economy and investments. The only way out was the appointment of early elections. He welcomed Danielsson’s return to Georgia but doubted his comeback would bring promising results in the negotiations.

Leader of the Girchi-More Freedom once again voiced opposition demands that include a stop of political persecution and the release of political prisoners, independent court, early elections.

Zurab Japaridze said the western partners had to directly tell the GD that it was responsible for the Georgian political crisis. They had to urge the ruling team to change the rhetoric and compromise.

“The Georgian Dream is responsible that one man holds the authority, for the politicized court, opposition politicians persecuted, and no trust in the elections. If you want to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic structure, you should change everything now,” Japaridze claimed.

Christian Danielsson, a special envoy of the European Council President Charles Michel for the Georgian political crisis, is expected to return to Georgia to continue mediation in the talks between the GD party and the opposition.