In 28 municipalities across Georgia, only the Kotsi’s [Georgian Dream] candidates are registered for the mayoral elections,  Tengo Tevzadze, a member of the opposition Ahali party, wrote on social media.

He claims this shows that opposition parties have effectively withdrawn from the contest.

“In municipalities such as Gurjaani, Sagarejo, Dedoplistskaro, Lagodekhi, Kvareli, Tianeti, Gardabani, Dmanisi, Tsalka, Tetritskaro, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda, Oni, Ambrolauri, Tsageri, Lentekhi, Mestia, Sachkhere, Bagdati, Vani, Tkibuli, Abasha, Martvili and Poti, the Georgian Dream candidates are running unopposed. This shows not systemic, but technical opposition – a lack of substantive and human resources. Where mayoral candidates were nominated, more than half are technical candidates,” Tevzadze noted.

He further stated that the situation is even worse regarding polling station representation. According to him, the opposition parties Lelo and the Gakharia party failed to properly staff election commissions. Out of 3,055 polling stations, Lelo has no representative at 253 precincts, while the Gakharia party is absent in 1,337 precincts. In regional areas, he added, the Gakharia party lacks members in 41% of precincts.

“This is capitulation – a declaration that these two parties cannot escape their role as systemic opposition. No one will tell you about this on TV, but the sad truth is here. And no one understands this better than Irakli Kobakhidze,” Tevzadze wrote.