I think that our society will not allow anyone to establish a dictatorship again in the future. [Mikhail] Saakashvili will fail.

I made mistakes. My supporters and I failed to prevent a main like [Mikhail] Saakashvili from acquiring absolute power. I should have criticized him earlier on.

We lived in a totalitarian system for more than 70 years, and our views are still under its influence. Many heads of state in the former Soviet republics believe that they must have total power.

Our prison in Georgia is a very different place from this prison here in Berlin. The conditions there are inhuman.

The West didn't see our real situation, and we were blinded by the compliments coming from the Europeans and Americans.

I would like to see more control and more criticism coming from Europe. The constant expressions of friendship for former President Eduard Shevardnadze, who made some contribution to German unity, were counterproductive for our country.

As long as [Mikhail] Saakashvili is president, I will be unable to prove my innocence in Georgia. Seen in this light, there is a positive aspect to my arrest in Germany. It will be much easier for me to refute the charges here.