Opposition Leaders Welcome Ex-interior Minister's Release

Opposition leaders Giorgi Vashadze and Giga Bokeria welcome ex-interior minister Vano Merabishvili's release after almost seven years of imprisonment.

Giga Bokeria, one of the leaders of European Georgia, believes that Merabishvili's detention was a stain on Georgia's recent democracy. As he told reporters, Bidzina Ivanishvili's political repression targeted people representing a political danger to him.

“This person had been in jail for seven years and I can't talk on his behalf. He has to say it. I am just glad that after serving such a sentence of seven years in confinement, the political prisoner has now been released. He is my friend.

"This story is a stain on our recent history of democracy. That is why Ivanishvili's regime must end peacefully through elections so that such things never happen in Georgia. Nobody should ever be put in prison due to such a political order," Bokeria said.

Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the New Georgia party, said that the fight for freedom continues and Vano Merabishvili will play his part in it. In light of Ivanishvili's 8-year rule, the success and progress that Georgia achieved from 2003 to 2012 was clearly visible, he said.

“I welcome the release of Vano Merabishvili from illegal detention. In the wake of Ivanishvili's eight-year reign, the efforts, successes and progress that Georgia has made from 2003 to 2012 have become even clearer. The fight for freedom continues, and I believe that along with thousands of patriots of new generations, Vano Merabishvili will play his part in this fight. Freedom for all illegal prisoners!” he stated. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

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