Lelo–Strong Georgia: Boycott was mistake, GD stole votes of parties that did not run in elections

“Recent developments have demonstrated that the boycott announced eight months before the elections was a grave mistake, enabling the Georgian Dream to steal votes from opposition parties that chose not to participate in the electoral contest,” reads the statement of the Lelo-Strong Georgia coalition.

The party emphasised that its primary goal remains the realisation of new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners.

“We want to express our gratitude to every Georgian citizen who trusted us and stood with us in this unequal struggle during the elections, despite immense pressure. To those who believed that change could only come through electoral means, coupled with steadfast, peaceful street protests. This is the path that Strong Georgia-Lelo is committed to. We firmly believe that this principled stance is essential for the democratic development of our country.

These are challenging times under the shadow of the Russian authoritarian regime, but we have always believed that our strategy was the only correct course of action at the outset, and we continue to hold that conviction; it remains the right vision for our nation.

The electoral process was the most arduous yet, a lopsided battleground under the influence of the Russian regime. We witnessed undeniable evidence of systemic fraud, including carousel voting, bribery, and voter intimidation through threats.

Our mission was to prevent the Georgian Dream from seizing and consolidating power across all cities and villages in Georgia. The Russian regime’s objective was to exclude pro-European democratic parties from the process, thereby ensuring complete control over Tbilisi and the regions.

The unfolding events have made it clear that the boycott campaign, launched eight months before the elections, was a strategic mistake by opposition leaders at the forefront of this effort. This decision influenced public opinion adversely, and, consequently, the entire political process, once again allowing the Georgian Dream to appropriate the votes of opposition parties that abstained from participation.

Our unwavering goal remains the realisation of new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners, objectives we are committed to achieving through constitutional means and relentless opposition,” concludes the statement from Lelo – Strong Georgia.