A prisoner of conscience, Nikoloz Javakhishvili, has published a letter from prison. He responds to current events, reviews the conditions in prison, and calls on his fellow citizens to participate in the protest rally planned for November 28.
“Hello, my friends, my like-minded people, and all of you whose hearts burn with love for our homeland. With the greatest respect, I want to thank you for everything you do every day, every evening, every minute and second.
First of all, I want to congratulate you on the glorious holiday of St. George’s Day. May the strength and grace of Saint George be with each of us. May he defeat evil and injustice for us just as he defeated the dragon.
I don’t know where to begin – there is so much I want to say, but I wrote down the topics and will follow that list.
Everyone wants to know how we are in prison, what we do, what our motivation is, and whether the prison has had any influence on us. I will say a few words.
We are doing very well, and even in prison conditions (if you want, we can encourage you from here). We study, we grow stronger both physically and spiritually, we talk, we discuss topics, and we often get angry at the injustice happening in the country. Our motivation is even stronger than before we were imprisoned much stronger. Prison has had absolutely no negative influence on us; on the contrary, we are using this time to our advantage.
I also want to send greetings and strength to all prisoners of conscience. I also want to respond to the Penitentiary Service Department and the prison administration. When we make a public statement, you first switch into self-defense mode, and only then you take action (if you take action at all). I address you from the courtroom as well I will speak loudly about how you treat prisoners. Forget about me (we, the prisoners of conscience, won’t start complaining, because our role model is Merab Kostava), but besides us, there are more than 3,000 other prisoners. I address Paata Salia come to Penitentiary Facility No. 8 and see with your own eyes the conditions in which we have to live here, or I categorically demand that the surveillance footage be made public.
I also want to briefly respond to the statement of Levan Machavariani (a “Dream” MP). He said: ‘The prison conditions are very good, those who get released express gratitude; you should have seen how things were before 2012.’ Levan, may every insult you received because of that comment reach you without exception. What conditions are you talking about? I have been here for a year, and in that time 2 prisoners were literally beaten to death, 3 guards were stabbed, some had their throats cut, 16 prisoners were beaten (that’s only what I heard how many cases have I not heard about?). There is no doctor, no proper food, cockroaches run through the cabinets, store products are twice as expensive as outside. I won’t go on listing what you already know but stay silent about just come inside and see what “good conditions” really mean. No matter how bad the conditions are, they cannot break our determination.
November 28, 2024, is a date that will go down in history – the day when tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people, filled with love for their homeland, came out in anger, when continuous protest began and continues to this day.
On November 28, 2025, it will be one full year of peaceful, continuous protest. I call on representatives of every field come to Rustaveli Avenue and defend your homeland and your future. Defend the freedom our ancestors earned with their blood. Do not be afraid – be angry. Action, action, and action.
I was sentenced to 2 years in prison because on November 28 I fired fireworks into the air.
When you watch everything happening when you see boys your age, and even girls, being beaten in the streets by the so‑called police; when the so‑called police arrest people over masks; when they get offended over a child’s toy; when people are left homeless; when salaries of the ruling-party officials have risen to 16,000 lari while pensioners live on 300–400 lari. I address you, the so-called police officers this applies to Goga Menanishvili, Lasha Salukvadze, Sergi Bzishvili, and Vazha Siradze. Each of you and your subordinates will have to answer for every action you’ve taken. I personally will make sure you are prosecuted under Article 225 – the same article they initially used to prosecute us.
Everyone must clearly understand, must open their eyes and see reality who our real enemy is, who wants war, who wants to tighten their grip around Georgia, who has hindered and continues to hinder the development and progress of our country. It is Russia.
Thank you for your attention. Maria, I love you very much, and remember that your ‘dot’ is always with you.
With love, your fellow fighter and ordinary Akatsuki.” – writes Nikoloz Javakhishvili.