UNM vows legal and political resistance to ‘unlawful steps’ targeting Gia Baramidze

“The criminal case launched today against Giorgi Baramidze is yet another demonstration that the government has ultimately converted the Prosecutor’s Office into an instrument of political retribution and Russian political propaganda,” reads the official statement issued by the United National Movement (UNM).

As highlighted in the statement, the party considers the proceedings initiated against Baramidze to be politically motivated and vows to oppose any unlawful steps taken against him through all legal and political avenues.

“Throughout his life, Giorgi Baramidze has fought for Georgia’s independence, territorial integrity, and freedom, including with a weapon in hand as an ordinary soldier in Abkhazia and Ukraine. The very individuals who today question his patriotism are those who for years excused Russian interests, damaged Georgia’s international standing, and dragged the country away from its European path. One need only recall the public statements by Bidzina Ivanishvili and his representatives calling for a public apology to the Abkhaz side.

How symbolic it is that today, on the anniversary of the launch of Russia’s full-scale aggression, persecution has been unleashed against a man whom Russia itself sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment for fighting against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

While the Kremlin designates Giorgi Baramidze an enemy and punishes him, the Georgian Dream government accuses that very same individual of high treason.

Patriotism is determined neither by the Kremlin nor by Georgian Dream’s prosecution and propaganda. Serving Georgia’s national interests is not a crime, and the criminal prosecution of political opponents cannot alter that truth.

We are convinced that this defamatory and absurd case is driven not by legal grounds, but by the political objectives of the Ivanishvili regime and the mandates of Russian propaganda. This trumped-up case is further proof of the Russian nature of this regime.

The United National Movement considers the persecution launched against Giorgi Baramidze to be politically motivated and will oppose any unlawful step directed against him through legal and political means,” the statement reads.

For context, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has launched a criminal investigation into high treason and sabotage concerning statements made by United National Movement member Giorgi Baramidze.