How parties, politicians are reacting to ex interior minister Merabishvili’s release

Political parties and politicians have given different evaluations to the release of former influential figure Vano Merabishvili from his seven-year imprisonment, as well as his promise given at Matrosovi prison earlier today that the current state government ‘will be overthrown’ by the end of the year. 

• Ex-Interior Minister Merabishvili leaves prison, vows ‘end of current gov’t’

 Merabishvili, who served as interior and prime minister under the United National Movement government, has not yet decided which opposition party to join. 

 The United National Movement and the European Georgia opposition parties, which include many one-time allies and friends of Merabishvili, have welcomed Merabishvili’s release from ‘illegal detention’, stating that the opposition has gained ‘one more very valuable player,’ and that it is up to Merabishvili to make a decision as to which party to join. 

 Leader of the New Georgia opposition party Giorgi Vashadze said that the ‘fight for freedom continues’ and ‘Merabishvili will play his role’ in this regard. 

Bokeria says that the European Georgia is waiting for Merabishvili's decision. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge. 

 Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says that he is ‘proud of Merabishvili,’ adding that the Georgian Dream leadership will ‘definitely be overthrown as the Georgian people want this.’ 

 Founder of the Lelo for Georgia political Movement Mamuka Khazaradze says that his party has no plans to cooperate with Merabishvili and distances itself from any forcible change of the government, but said that if Merabishvili faces additional charges and will be returned to prison ‘he will be a political prisoner.’ 

 Leader of the opposition party For United Georgia Anzor Bitsadze says that if Merabishvili joins the united opposition [regarding 2020 election issue] they ‘will not sit at the table with him.’ 

 Ruling Georgian Dream officials say that Merabishvili ‘is lost in time and space and he is a hot political potato - unwanted by opposition parties.’ 

Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani says that Merabishvili is unwanted for the opposition. 

 He spent so many years in prison it is hard for Merabishvili to correctly realise the situation. He is an unwanted hot potato even for the opposition,” Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani said. 

 Ruling party MPs Nukri Kantaria, Via Volski and Irakli Sesiashvili said that Merabishvili “who was demanding dead bodies and brutally dispersed rallies,” will never be able to gain public support. 

• Ex-PM Merabishvili: "I need two dead bodies" (video with English subtitles)

  They say that Merabishvili ‘has no chancess” of success and some opposition parties ‘may symbolically accept him.’