“The imprisonment of one of the Coalition for Change leaders Zurab Girchi Japaridze represents a calculated step by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili to intimidate and terrorize political activism across Georgia,” the United National Movement regional secretary Giorgi Botkoveli stated.

“Dictatorship continues in the country, but we must do everything to ensure that dictatorship does not take root in our state,” Botkoveli declared.

“Zurab Girchi Japaridze’s imprisonment is yet another step taken by Bidzina Ivanishvili to somehow intimidate the political activism that exists in the country, specific political forces, specific political parties,” he added.

“I am convinced that every such harsh step – so-called harsh, but actually specific decisions that serve the Russian state, the occupying, occupant country – will give even greater motivation to both the Georgian people and all politicians, all those people who are ready to fight against Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Russian regime,” he stated.

When asked about other opposition figures currently facing court proceedings, Botkoveli predicted that similar sentences would be handed down to other opposition politicians.

“I don’t think a different verdict will be reached for others. One thing is very simple – the verdict will be whatever suits preserving Bidzina Ivanishvili’s billions. This man approaches the processes developing in the country not from a state perspective, not so that the country has some success, not so that there aren’t those reactions from our partners that really exist regarding all his steps, but he’s interested in how to preserve his billions and continue enriching himself even more,” Botkoveli said.

“He continues dragging people into that corrupt swamp, through which he then essentially has everyone tied up and they can make any statement without thinking,” Botkoveli concluded.

Zurab Girchi Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change opposition movement, was sentenced to seven months in prison by a Tbilisi City Court for refusing to appear before Parliament’s temporary investigative commission. In addition to the prison term, Japaridze was banned from holding public office for two years.