“We will continue the dialogue, consultations. Let’s wait for the opportunities created by our Western partners, who continue working with the government to force them to give up important issues, political prisoners among them,” said Salome Samadashvili, a member of the United National Movement.

She said the UNM would continue working with Western partners and mediators if they see any prospect of an agreement.

“This political solution will not be possible without the release of political prisoners, Nika Melia and Giorgi Rurua, and agreement on all five points listed in Michel’s plan. We will continue the dialogue, consultations. Let’s wait for the opportunities created by our Western partners, who continue working with the government to force them to give up important issues, political prisoners among them. I did not expect Nika Melia released yesterday as the GD government trades in people’s freedom. The opposition will continue to mobilize the public and prepare for the May 15 rally. I hope many people will gather on that day to make their voices heard by the authorities,” Samadashvili said.

Georgian opposition parties that won seats in the Georgian Parliament of the 10th Convocation believe the 2020 parliamentary elections were a fraud. They have been demanding repeat parliamentary elections and the release of the United National Movement Chair, Nika Melia, and the co-founder of the TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua.

The second EU-mediated attempt to solve political crises in Georgia failed earlier this week. EU mediator Christian Danielsson said he proposed a solution that puts the country’s interest first to the parties, but none of the political actors agreed on the solution.