“Everyone’s responsibility is very great. Let’s think first and then talk,” Georgia’s former president, Salome Zourabichvili, made such a statement at today’s briefing.

Zourabishvili emphasized the responsibility of opposition parties in local government elections.

According to her, “It is the political responsibility of the parties to stop complacency and acknowledge that unity is essential.”

“The situation is very chaotic regarding many issues that demand clarity from me today. When we talk about the near future and political developments, we need to know what we’re saying and where we’re heading. In this case, I’m not speaking on behalf of the platform, I’m speaking in my own name. The scheduling of local elections and participation in them, when we have 60, or more than 60, political prisoners in the country, is somewhat surprising and even incomprehensible to me. How can you enter elections when not only activists are in prison, but political leaders as well?

“The situation is highly chaotic, with many issues requiring clarity from me today. When discussing the near future and political developments, we must comprehend what we’re saying and where we’re heading. I am speaking here in my personal capacity, not on behalf of the Resistance Platform. The scheduling of local elections and participation in them is, to me, quite perplexing—especially considering that over 60 political prisoners are currently held in the country.

How can elections be held when not only activists but also political leaders are imprisoned? If political leaders are behind bars, how can we genuinely speak of free and fair elections? This is precisely why we developed a platform—a comprehensive document that has been agreed upon—that considers all these conditions. It outlines the necessary changes and prerequisites that must be implemented before parliamentary elections can be legitimately conducted.

Without unity, we should set aside our differences and go our separate ways, allowing this regime—already teetering on the brink of collapse—to claim a victory it neither deserves nor can legitimately achieve over the society, which continues to resist with unwavering determination. If political parties bear a responsibility, it is to stop complacency and acknowledge that unity is paramount and a clear understanding of the situation is essential.

As time progresses, the prospect of holding parliamentary and local elections simultaneously becomes increasingly realistic. However, these elections will only be possible if the protest continues, if pressure from our international partners persists, and if political parties work together to present a shared vision and a credible alternative for the future. No one ever wants a change, so a vacuum is created in the country,” Zourabichvili said.