“I participated in the October 2024 elections with the list of the Gakharia for Georgia party. However, once discussions about participating in the local elections began, our political paths diverged, and different concepts took shape,” wrote Elguja Khokrishvili, a former member of the Gakharia for Georgia party, on social media.

As Khokrishvili emphasises, he is categorically opposed to the participation of any opposition party in the upcoming local elections.

“I see no genuine political outcome from engaging in this process, except for legitimising the regime. The only way to counter this type of regime is through a vigorous boycott, expanding civil protests, applying internal and external pressure, street rallies, international sanctions, and political delegitimisation. Political persecution has already entered a mass phase in the country. The arrests of opposition leaders, media suppression, and persecution of civil activists have become akin to the Russian order. Russia’s influence in Georgia is no longer hidden; it is evident in legislation, repression, propaganda, and the complete collapse of international relations.

Under these conditions, no one has the right to remain in their comfort zone. The country is being pulled into Russia’s sphere of influence geopolitically, with a significant portion of the political opposition behind bars. This is a fight to defend freedom, independence, and the pro-Western choice. Neutrality is already a stance in this struggle. If the current system does not collapse, any political action, including participation in what I term pseudo-elections, loses all meaning. The fight will continue relentlessly, both inside and outside the country. We must persist in this struggle until the regime falls,” Khokrishvili asserts.

As a reminder, the Central Election Commission, citing Giorgi Gakharia’s statement, cancelled the electoral registration of eight party members and removed them from the party list.

Specifically, the CEC cancelled the registration of the following candidates nominated by the Gakharia for Georgia party for the October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections: Elguja Khokrishvili, Kakha Nuralidze, Vakhtang Pachulia, Erekle Dumbadze, Gocha Tkeshelashvili, Koka Kobaladze, Nikoloz Amirkhanashvili, and Otar Shalikiani.

The Gakharia for Georgia party explained that this move was related to preparations for the local government elections.

“We have been saying from the very first day that we are preparing for the local elections. Accordingly, the rotation within the party list is also related to these elections. Some candidates— in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and other cities—will be single-mandate candidates of the party,” the party stated.