Georgia’s third president has responded to criticism from certain opposition figures who claim he seeks to regain absolute power in the country. Writing on Facebook, Mikheil Saakashvili stated:
“The attacks directed at me over the past few days were neither accidental nor unexpected. The fact that a segment of the ‘opposition’ is only formally fighting Ivanishvili and is primarily occupied with ‘biting’ me is nothing new.
The reality is that public support has recently grown—not just for me, but primarily for what I represent: a decisive struggle for a strong, free, and just Georgian state. The people have broken free from the influence of the propaganda clichés of ‘Dream’ (Georgian Dream, the ruling party) and Russia.
Together, we have already created such a state once, and we will certainly ensure that it does not remain a myth of the past, but is reborn, stands tall, and returns to the global stage in all its strength. We will certainly liberate Sokhumi as well.
And what exactly did I say to the opposition that caused such outrage? ‘Act, go on the offensive, unite,’ I said. In response, they began shouting: ‘Saakashvili wants sole leadership,’ instead of finding the strength for a real struggle.
Those who find self-realization in ‘biting’ me have no political future,” Saakashvili wrote.