Georgia arrests opposition leader after call for “peaceful revolution”

On Thursday, Georgian authorities arrested Levan Khabeishvili, a leading politician from the largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM).

A few days earlier, he had attracted attention by calling for a “peaceful revolution” in the local elections scheduled for October 4. According to the UNM, Khabeishvili was taken away after an interview with the opposition television station Formula in Tbilisi.

Neither the Interior Ministry nor the State Security Service commented on possible charges. Observers see the arrest as part of the government's crackdown on pro-European forces following protests against the controversial election in October 2023 and the decision to suspend EU accession talks.

Khabeishvili had previously called on Georgians to unite for fundamental change: “A peaceful coup, a peaceful revolution is inevitable because we must return to our European family.”

UNM spokespeople called the arrest proof that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party sees its power threatened. Its founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, is considered a powerful figure behind the scenes. GD is considering banning all opposition parties after the elections.

(reuters, est)