Estonia has strongly condemned the detention of Georgian opposition leader Zurab Japaridze, emphasizing its negative impact on democracy in the country.
“Another dark hour for democracy in Georgia,” wrote Estonian Ambassador to Georgia Marge Mardisalu-Kahar in a statement on X. “Estonia condemns the detention of Georgian opposition leader Zurab Japaridze. Repressive laws and actions against the opposition in Georgia are in stark contrast with European values.”
The remarks follow growing international criticism of the Georgian Dream government over its recent crackdown on opposition figures, civil society, and media. Japaridze’s arrest has become a turning point in what many Western diplomats see as Georgia’s accelerating slide away from democratic norms.