Speaker Papuashvili dismisses opposition leader Khabeishvili's statements, urges focus on ‘rehabilitation’

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has described Levan Khabeishvili as a convicted criminal serving a sentence and said he should focus on rehabilitation rather than seeking public attention.

Speaking to reporters, Papuashvili said Khabeishvili should use his time in prison to reflect on his actions and return to society as a reformed individual after completing his sentence.

"He is a convicted criminal serving a sentence. It would be better for him to use this period for resocialisation, to reconsider his criminal intentions and return to society after serving his sentence as a corrected person rather than as a criminal," Papuashvili said.

The parliament speaker also dismissed Khabeishvili's public statements, arguing that attempts by convicted individuals to remain politically relevant should not receive significant public attention.

"I do not think efforts by convicted criminals to stay relevant deserve attention," Papuashvili said. "When such crimes are involved, society's response should be to ignore the statements made by him, Mikheil Saakashvili and other convicted individuals."