Arrested opposition leader held with ‘prisoners of conscience’, calls for continued fight against ‘oligarchy’

Opposition leader Irakli Nadiradze on Thursday said he had been placed in Cell 38 of Gldani prison alongside prisoners he described as “prisoners of conscience” convicted for violence during pro-European protests last year, and in a letter circulated from custody he pledged to continue the political struggle.

In the letter, Nadiradze said he was received “with brotherly love” by fellow inmates Nikoloz Javakhishvili, Rezo Kiknadze and Mindia Shervashidze, and thanked them and their families for their sacrifice.

“Yesterday I was placed in Gldani prison, Cell 38 - with the prisoners of conscience Nikoloz Javakhishvili, Rezo Kiknadze and Mindia Shervashidze. They received me with true brotherly love - as their brother and one of them; this means a great deal to me. Once again, great thanks to these guys for their devotion and to their parents for raising such sons,” he wrote.

Nadiradze addressed supporters and other detained opposition figures, saying that despite the disappointment of events on October 4, he believed the sacrifices and the energy of the movement would lead to victory.

“Despite the disappointment of October 4, I firmly believe that this struggle, this sacrifice, this inflamed momentum will inevitably lead us to victory,” he wrote. “Power is in unity! Everything will be fine! Fire to the oligarchy! I will be in this fight to the end - in prison and in freedom.”

He also expressed gratitude to fellow activists and journalists, naming several colleagues - Levan Sanikidze, Irakli Pavlenishvili, Lasha Pharulava, Vaso Urushadze - and thanked “the hundreds of thousands of impassioned, patriotic people” who continue to protest and the media outlets that, he said, cover the protests despite personal risk.

The letter called for rapid concentration of efforts to end what Nadiradze calls “the Russian oligarchic regime” and positioned his fellow inmates as part of the vanguard of that struggle.