Imedi TV released a recording in which Droa party leader Elene Khoshtaria and Girchi-More Freedom party leader Zurab Japaridze allegedly discuss instructions received from foreigners, including military-related information.

“They say they will not accept Bidzina doing this. They immediately told us the topics they are interested in, for instance, Russian businesses set up here, the purchase of oil, and military issues. They made a list of questions that we have to constantly provide with updated information. We compiled a 100-page document and we sent some things for verification. During my last visit some 2 months ago, they said they were working with Americans and British over sanctions, which is not simple since for Americans, sanctions are of more geopolitical issue, on how to begin and when, what will follow inside and etc. This will have a much greater impact, and there will be bigger shifts than if Ukraine did that.

The good news is that Ukrainians are lobbying this alongside us. It is significant that Ukraine collaborated with us over the sanctions issue in the West for sanctioning them. The West believes that Bidzina should be the last stop that will bring tangible results, for it not to be Lukashenka’s version that he is a sanctioned indvidual. Increasing pressure is the tactic. When foreigners tell me they fear, I respond, ‘Do not start with Bidzina.’ It can be a judge or a prosecutor and then gradually expanding the list. This is a matter of tactics,” Elene Khoshtaria said.

In the recording, Zurab Japaridze talks about Iranian drones.

“A lot depends on Ukrainians, and in most cases, they can’t stand some moral pressure coming from the Ukrainians, and because of that, things are getting in. However, what they told us, what they were interested in, was the story of Iranian drones. These Iranian drones are a serious problem in Ukraine. It was important for them to have the information if these drones entered Russia from Iran through Georgian airspace. They explained that if we search for this information and if confirmed, this may become the basis for a consensus within the EU on the use of sanctions,” Zurab Japaridze said.