Eight opposition parties have announced they will not participate in the upcoming local elections, prompting Elene Khoshtaria and Gedevan Popkhadze to end their hunger strike.

Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa party announced a joint statement outside the Georgian Parliament.

“We, the pro-Western political parties and groups of Georgia, whose goal is to dismantle Ivanishvili’s Russian regime, protect the country’s independence and sovereignty, and establish European-style democratic governance, jointly declare: 1. We refuse to take part in the so-called local self-government elections, as participation would only legitimize an illegitimate Russian-backed regime and would not serve the interests of our citizens. 2. Recognizing the need for unity, we commit to uncompromising, principled action to accelerate the end of the oligarchic, undemocratic system. We believe non-cooperation is the path to victory. Alongside Georgian citizens, we will continue national resistance until the end,” the statement reads

The statement was signed by Liberty Square, European Georgia, the United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, Ahali, Girchi – More Freedom, Droa and Federalists.