“The regime is destined for defeat. It senses this and fights malevolently against everyone. Our path may seem arduous to many, but the road to truth and victory is never easy,” wrote Giorgi Vashadze, incarcerated leader of the Strategy Aghmashenebeli party, on Facebook.

According to Vashadze, the imprisonment of free thought and a free spirit is impossible, and this is the fundamental mistake of all autocrats.

“I am well, writing from cell #308. I understand why I am here, and I am not the first to walk this path. Every such journey confirms that political persecution leads nowhere.

It is impossible to imprison a free mind—this is the core mistake of all autocrats and those wielding violence and oppression, marking the beginning of their downfall.

A prisoner is not only someone physically confined but also those outside these walls who lack the essence of freedom.

Being here once again reaffirms that many of us, including myself and my friends, are not in politics for personal comfort; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.

This is a fight for Georgia—a fight for a better, safer future for our children.

The regime is destined for defeat. It feels this and fights malevolently against everyone.

Our path may seem difficult, but the journey to truth and victory is never straightforward. Negotiating with them is impossible—they have lost face and integrity once and for all. That is why our weapons are unity, dignity, and unwavering resistance. We will definitely prevail!”

On June 24, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Giorgi Vashadze to seven months in prison and barred him from holding public office for two years for failing to comply with requests from the Georgian Parliament’s temporary investigative commission.