“There was talk of Salome Zourabichvili herself becoming a candidate for Tbilisi Mayor, but she refused; now she truly has no right to transfer responsibility onto others,” Giorgi Sharashidze, a member of the Gakharia for Georgia party’s Political Council, has stated.

Sharashidze was asked about a statement by Georgia’s former President, Salome Zourabichvili, that “political parties were advised not to participate in the local elections, and those who are running in these elections are participating against a backdrop of pressure from the government”.

“Two days before the elections, I have no desire to comment on Salome Zourabichvili’s statement. There will be time after the elections, and we shall discuss it then. For now, I can only recall that, if Madam Salome had harboured such a desire, there was discussion about her taking responsibility and standing as a candidate for the Mayor of Tbilisi herself. However, regrettably, she declined to do so. Naturally, now she truly has no right to transfer any responsibility onto others.

I would encourage her to address her own responsibilities as well; however, it is premature to discuss this at present. I would emphasise once again that our top priority is to safeguard the votes of our citizens and to be present at polling stations on October 4, ensuring a peaceful transition of power at the local level. It is essential that our citizens have their own worthy representatives in the assemblies who will defend their rights,” stated Sharashidze.

When asked why Salome Zourabichvili refused the mayoral candidacy, Sharashidze noted:

“I cannot tell you. I do not wish to go into details. Today, it is easy to make comments from the outside in the role of observer, and it is far more difficult to participate in the struggle that our political force calls the fight against the Georgian Dream’s autocratic and violent regime through elections. We see how great the pressure, intimidation and repression are, and how much the Georgian Dream did not want to have a real competitor in these elections,” declared Giorgi Sharashidze.