UNM’s Sanikidze: Khabeishvili’s arrest driven by fear of truth and October 4 protest

Levan Sanikidze, one of the leaders of the opposition United National Movement, on Saturday said that the arrest of party Political Council chair Levan Khabeishvili was motivated by the authorities’ fear of the truth and the upcoming October 4 protest.

“Khabeishvili’s detention is driven by fear of truth and the October 4 rally. None of his fellow fighters will be abandoned, and Khabeishvili will continue the struggle from behind prison walls. We need to move from the courthouse yard to Rustaveli Avenue and intensify preparations for the grand October 4 protest,” Sanikidze said.

He criticised the judicial process, calling it “a legal nonsense,” noting that the same judge who issued Khabeishvili’s arrest order is now set to decide on pretrial measures. Sanikidze also criticised state institutions for failing to uphold accountability.

Sanikidze emphasised that Khabeishvili, as a leading figure in opposition to the Government, would continue his political fight from prison and urged supporters to participate in demonstrations, first at the courthouse and then at Rustaveli Avenue, as part of preparations for the October 4 protest.