Lelo’s Gegelia: Colleagues’ opinions on bail have shifted from criticism to necessity in struggle

“Our colleagues, including Zura Japaridze and others, held differing views on the idea of bail, and now their opinions have changed,” stated Grigol Gegelia, one of the leaders of Lelo-Strong Georgia, during the ‘360 Degrees’ programme on PalitraNews.

According to Gegelia, those who a few months ago criticised Khazaradze-Japaridze for paying bail, branding it a ‘deal with the system,’ now recognise bail as an essential prerequisite for the fight.

“Our colleagues, including Zura Japaridze, once saw bail differently, and now they see it differently again. I understand that moods, tactics, and strategic visions evolve. The same individuals who criticised and cursed Khazaradze-Japaridze months ago, questioning how they could pay bail and calling it a deal with the system, have come to see bail as a necessary component of our struggle. The shift between December and May has been profound. We must defeat Bidzina Ivanishvili and his allies, even amid grievances. Managing these grievances is a burden. I am a politician, after all. It’s not about holding grudges, but about maintaining consistency. Should words have value? Could bail be considered a deal with the system one day and a prerequisite for resistance just a few months later? Yes, I believe so. That’s why I think Zura Japaridze should be freed. Georgia needs his intellect, his spirit, and his fight,” Gegelia explained.

Furthermore, Gegelia expressed his view that the often-mentioned concept of ‘unity’ within the opposition spectrum is now outdated.

“Unity is somewhat of an antiquated issue. I don’t believe unity is the end goal. What truly matters is reaching consensus on the strategic content. I don’t know what anyone means by a ‘united front’. Irakli Kupradze met with others; I didn’t ask about it, and wasn’t interested in that meeting. What concerns me isn’t unity or coordination; they can be very exhausting. What I care about is the strategic vision, what is our overarching plan, and is it coherent? We have seen various formats in the past, similar to G8, G20, and others, but then visions diverged on crucial strategic issues. Therefore, I personally will not support mere coordination unless I am confident that the strategic goals are fully aligned. Illusions of unity that lack real substance are tiring. What I want is a united front in business and in the fight for our goals,” he said.

Lastly, Gegelia expressed his hope that the government will make a political decision to pardon many of the young people detained during recent protests.

“I expect they will pardon all political prisoners, at least most of them. By political prisoners, I mean young people who were arrested during the protests, who are languishing in prison for no valid reason and have been sentenced to years. I believe the regime will take this step politically. The October 4 case, however, is more complex, as it has become a tool in the Georgian Dream propaganda machine, a piece of evidence in their conspiracy theories. So I am less certain that the October 4 case will be resolved in this way. If the regime takes steps towards liberalisation, such as issuing pardons, it will be a move to ensure the upcoming elections and to strengthen its hold on power. I believe we must all unite in any forthcoming elections,” Gegelia concluded.