Detained opposition leader: ‘no one stands up for us’

Detained opposition leader Murtaz Zodelava said during a court hearing that since his arrest, he and others detained on 4 October during anti-government protests, have been left without support, claiming that “half of the opposition called for us to be stoned.”

Zodelava told the court that the situation affected not only the detainees themselves but also their families.

“Go ahead, portray me negatively, but there are 60 people sitting in the second wagon. It’s not only their suffering - it’s also the suffering of their families, their underage children, their elderly parents. It’s a real tragedy. I don’t even know these three people; it turns out they are wonderful individuals - I got to know them only now. At the stage of discussing bail, please look at them differently. This is Georgia,” Zodelava said.

He added that no public or political group had shown interest in their situation.

“No one remained in this country to stand up for us. Since our arrest, half of the opposition has demanded that we be stoned. For the people of 4 October, no one exists - no NGOs, no East, no West. Give these people a chance to breathe,” Zodelava told the court.

According to him, the other detained individuals also lack support: “Those 60 people have no one to speak for them. There is great fear - relatives or family members are afraid to show up. This is my sincere, inner position.”