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.

Mikhail Saakashvili would do everything within his power to destroy me, first as a politician and then as a person. All government authorities, including the police, the military and the courts, are controlled by those in power.

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

Georgian society can no longer be divided. I don't want to see our country's best minds leaving the country to try their luck abroad.

I hope to be granted asylum. Deportation [ from Germany] that would be a death sentence for me.

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.

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