“I believe that what is happening in this country, and to us as a people, has already gone beyond mere legal assessments,” Nino Lomjaria, founder of the non-governmental organisation Georgia’s European Orbit, shared on social media.

“We first need to ask ourselves: Who are we? Are we a nation that claims an ancient culture and civilisation, a people proud of respecting women, parents, and future generations? Or are we, perhaps, an uncultured, savage society where it is commonplace to imprison the elderly, torture the disabled, spit on and strip detained women, insult war refugees, and belittle heroes who fought and died in war?

We must first determine this fundamental starting point. Only then can we choose whether we want to be part of Europe, align with the Arabs, or follow the Chinese path. I believe the men of this country hold the answers to these questions, above all else,” writes Lomjaria.