“The Georgian Dream party has taken the state and society as a whole hostage exactly the way cornered terrorists do,” opposition politician Dimitri Tskitishvili wrote.
The former lawmaker explains what he sees as the meaning behind the re-arrest of politicians already imprisoned by Georgian Dream, describing it as a new phase of political repression.
“What does this new phase of political repression mean?
It is a typical example of an escalation strategy, which is practically the only instrument left in Georgian Dream’s arsenal on the international stage.
What does this escalation strategy entail?
For every step that Georgian Dream perceives as pressure against it which in reality represents efforts by partners to uphold democratic values the ruling party responds by further escalating tensions. Through this, it seeks to force the European Union, the U.S. administration, the German government, and others to retreat, accept the existing status quo, and shift toward a transactional relationship with Georgian Dream.”
“Georgian Dream has taken the state and society hostage exactly as cornered terrorists do.
The party has, unintentionally, entered an escalation spiral from which a favorable exit has become increasingly unlikely.”
“Unlike the Georgian Dream regime, democratic states do not operate based on the personal decisions of a single leader or a small group of leaders.
Democratic states function within the framework of institutional democracy, according to established rules and clearly defined procedures.
Therefore, under no form of blackmail will Georgian Dream be able to force Brussels, Washington, Berlin, or any other democratic capital to take steps that contradict their principles or established procedures.”
“On the contrary, such anti-democratic actions by Georgian Dream provoke backlash. Through this course, the party further deepens its isolation and may soon become an international pariah potentially even for Russia.
Even Russia requires a regime in Georgia that can assist in laundering black or sanctioned money through access to Western financial markets.
No one needs a universally despised regime that has turned its country into a grey zone and offers no practical benefit in maintaining relations.”
“So whether this is the establishment of full-fledged totalitarianism or merely the convulsions of an incompetent dictatorship is for you to judge,” Tskitishvili writes.
Dimitri Tskitishvili served as a member of Georgia’s 9th convocation parliament from Georgian Dream and as a member of the 11th convocation parliament representing For Georgia. He is currently not affiliated with any political party.