Some opposition parties linked to Ivanishvili, incapable of defeating government, ex-Pres Saakashvili

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has accused several opposition parties of serving the interests of former prime minister and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, arguing that the current opposition configuration is incapable of defeating the ruling government.

Speaking during a court hearing, Saakashvili said the opposition in its present form does not meet the criteria for victory and described it as a "project of inevitable defeat".

He argued that many opposition figures were focused on advancing their own political standing rather than building a united movement capable of winning elections.

Saakashvili also claimed that a number of opposition parties had effectively become business projects rather than political organisations focused on securing power.

Referring to specific parties, he described Lelo for Georgia as a business project associated with its founders, while alleging that Ahali had been created to attract support away from his political base rather than to win elections.

He further claimed that several opposition groups were ultimately "Ivanishvili projects" and alleged that their financial backers used them as leverage in dealings with the government rather than as means for political change.