“I have parted ways with the political party Gakharia for Georgia,” Dimitri Tskitishvili announced on social media.

According to Tskitishvili, the decision stems from a fundamental disagreement concerning the issue of elections.

“I would like to publicly state that my journey with the political party Gakharia for Georgia has come to an end. (I cannot officially leave the party, as I was not formally a member) The reason is not merely a difference of opinion on whether to participate in the elections or not, but a profound divergence regarding the very question of elections.

For me, the October 4 elections are not and cannot be a tactical, staged process. Despite my general support for the struggle for institutional democracy, I believe that participating in the elections in their current form and with their current dynamics will not help restore democracy in our country.

I have expressed this publicly several times before, and I reaffirm it now: participation in the elections would only make sense if there were a coordinated effort among political forces, with even a small chance of defeating the regime in an unfair political contest.

Regrettably, the fragmentation of the political landscape today is the most unfavourable circumstance for supporting public protest and overcoming the regime.
I remain hopeful that at least one path will lead to results, but we must all recognise that by October 5, a different reality may unfold, and we must be prepared for that as well,” writes Dimitri Tskitishvili.