Ana Dolidze, leader of the For People party, announced at a briefing today that the party has decided not to participate in the upcoming local self-government elections, calling them unjustified under the current political conditions.

“Today, a serious situation has developed in the country. The main question many are asking is whether the For People party and I, Ana Dolidze, will participate in the upcoming local self-government elections—what the Georgian Dream cynically refers to as elections, but which we see as a political sacrifice.

First and foremost, I want to address political prisoners—those who are risking their lives and health, standing firm in the fight for a better, European future for Georgia. Our party has decided that participation in these elections is unjustified. We will not enable the current regime, which merely claims to be a legitimate government, to use our participation as a pretext to claim that elections were conducted fairly in the eyes of the international community.

We do not see these local elections as a genuine contest. On one side stand sincere, determined citizens. On the other, a system of oppression and repression, upheld by a judiciary subservient to the Georgian Dream. Under these conditions, we refuse to lead our supporters into a process that we believe is a trap.

At the same time, For People has decided not to join the election boycott. In an atmosphere of public apathy, we believe it is counterproductive to spend time and energy traveling across the country simply to ask people not to act. The Georgian people already know where justice lies—and where it does not.

We must remain focused on our primary goal: Georgia’s integration into Europe. To achieve this, we demand the release of political prisoners and the holding of free and fair new parliamentary elections. That is where our energy is directed,” Dolidze said.

Dolidze concluded by highlighting the importance of preserving Georgia’s visa-free travel with the EU and imposing personal sanctions.

“Visa-free travel belongs to the Georgian people, and we will do everything in our power to defend it. Sanctions must be imposed personally on the corrupt individuals who represent Georgia’s interim government,” she said.