Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the former Prime Minister of Georgia, responds to the arrest of Gigi Ugulava on a social network.

As he says, Ugulava’s detention could be described as a political use of the justice system.

“The detention of Gigi Ugulava as an example of using the court for political reasons. Such actions of the government will increase polarization in the country.
When only a few months remain until the crucial election and the opposition leader is detained, especially when this is preceded by a violation of the Government’s promise regarding the electoral system and strict criticism from Georgia’s strategic partners, the move could be seen as a political use of the justice system, while the existing tendency shows that the Government (intentionally or unintentionally - it doesn’t matter anymore) rejects the democratic course chosen by the majority of the population, which will logically be followed by the preliminary delegitimization of the results of the 2020 elections.

This is the opinion of all sensible people, regardless of whether Gigi Ugulava fits into their political taste - I will hereby clarify that my and European Georgia"s political beliefs have been and remain cardinally different.

I call on them to use all measures to normalize the political process, to avoid polarization of society and to hold the crucial elections peacefully”, - wrote Giorgi Kvirikashvili.