Ruling power seeks moral concession from detained opposition figures, analyst

Political analyst Davit Zurabishvili has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of attempting to extract moral concessions from detained opposition politicians to present itself as victorious, despite what he described as the party’s actual defeat.

Zurabishvili said the party was seeking to have at least one detained politician admit to wrongdoing, framing it as a way to justify its actions to supporters.

“All these individuals were detained without cause, solely because of their political positions and views. Georgian Dream can only portray a ‘victory’ if any of them confess, but we know that will not happen, because they have nothing to repent,” he said.

Zurabishvili further noted the party’s aim was to create the impression among its electorate that the detainees were agents or criminals, rather than political opponents, thereby legitimising the government’s actions.