Badri Japaridze's mandate was terminated in a hastened manner, since he was the 50th MP and had the decisive vote needed to form a fact-finding commission relating to my torture - I would like to call on everyone to support Badri Japaridze's candidacy in Rustavi, - Mikheil Saakashvili, the third President of Georgia, says in his statement posted on social media.

As he explained, victory cannot be achieved in Batumi or Rustavi if there is no big wave in the country against poverty, robbery, injustice, ridicule.

"Badri Japaridze was hastily stripped of his MP status, as he was the 50th member and had the decisive vote needed to set up a fact-finding commission to investigate my torture.

I have a special attitude towards him, but the idea of ​​the unity of all real opposition groups is much higher than my subjective attitude. Nowhere in the world has mafia regimes been defeated without everyone being united.

Therefore, I would like to call on everyone to support Badri Japaridze's candidacy in Rustavi.

But we must all remember that victory will not be achieved in Batumi or Rustavi unless there is a big wave in the country against poverty, robbery, injustice, ridicule, and this wave will definitely be in the shortest possible time!" reads Saakashvili’s statement.

Badri Japaridze will be the majoritarian candidate of Lelo Rustavi in ​​the by-elections.