Opposition leader Khoshtaria: ex-PM Garibashvili letters expose ‘deepening split’ within Georgian Dream

Coalition for Change leader Elene Khoshtaria has described former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s letters as evidence of an increasingly visible split within the Georgian Dream ruling party, saying the ongoing confrontation could ultimately lead to the collapse of the government.

In a letter released from prison on Friday, Khoshtaria said Garibashvili was, from a “statehood perspective,” a victim in the current situation and that the alleged violation of his rights was unacceptable regardless of how his political role was viewed.

“Garibashvili’s crisis and his letters should be assessed from two perspectives. From the statehood perspective, this is undisguised lawlessness and criminal illegality, which is neither covered up nor concealed,” Khoshtaria wrote.

At the same time, she said the developments had clear political implications and pointed to what she described as a “very noticeable split” within Georgian Dream.

“From the perspective of the political conjuncture, this clearly means a very noticeable split within Georgian Dream,” she said, arguing that the confrontation between major political figures was a sign of instability within the ruling system.

Khoshtaria said she believed the weakening of the system was being driven by three factors: non-recognition of the government, continued protests and international sanctions.

According to Khoshtaria, the continued protests were particularly important because, although individual demonstrations might not immediately produce visible results, their cumulative effect contributed to weakening the system.

“One protest does not end a regime, but the sum of these protests, together with non-recognition and disobedience, creates the force that breaks the system,” she wrote.

She also identified international sanctions as a key element of the pressure on the government, arguing that sanctions were linked to the refusal to cooperate with and recognize what she described as the regime.

Khoshtaria urged citizens to take pride in what she called their “persistent” struggle, saying the developments surrounding Garibashvili demonstrated that the ruling system was already showing signs of internal deterioration.

“When a collapse begins, it is inevitable that it will end the regime,” she wrote, calling on supporters to continue the same course “with patience” until the end.