“Gakharia for Georgia party is straightforward and transparent. We reiterate that we are preparing for all types of elections, including local elections,” stated Ana Buchukuri, a member of the Gakharia for Georgia party, on Facebook in response to Ahali party leader Nika Melia, who dismissed her questions as “rhetorical.”

Buchukuri emphasised that if the Gakharia for Georgia party decides not to participate in the elections, the party will openly communicate that decision to the public.

“If we choose not to run in the elections, everyone will hear it directly from us. We reaffirm our readiness for any electoral process, including local elections. Several days ago, we posed a simple, legitimate, and logical question to opposition parties boycotting municipal elections: What is your plan after the boycott? The only answer we received was the proposal to hold so-called elections by phone. Is this approach serious? What does this say about their respect for voters and commitment to genuine protest?” Buchukuri wrote.

Nika Melia, one of the Ahali party leaders, responded: “The time has come to end political confusion and ambiguity.” He called on all opposition parties to honestly declare whether they intend to participate in what he described as a “non-existent race called local elections.”