“We are talking about someone who is a political prisoner, but that status does not grant immunity for his political actions,” said Irakli Pavlenishvili, Deputy Secretary General of the opposition United National Movement party, in reference to Mamuka Khazaradze, the Leader of the Lelo party.

According to Pavlenishvili, attention should be focused on political forces that deviate from the chosen path.

“When a political group avoids the struggle and instead seeks to normalise the regime or ease international pressure, it will face an appropriate response from us. This is not an attack—it’s a statement of fact. If anyone believes we will remain silent as they abandon protest and resistance, they are mistaken.

Forces that aim to cooperate with the so-called government and not boycott elections need to reassess their direction. We should be urging them to refocus, but instead, they criticise us for speaking out,” Pavlenishvili said.

His comments came after Lelo leader Mamuka Khazaradze published a letter urging unity, stating, “New elections lie ahead, and we must reach them through struggle, not boycott.”