“Election boycott has never and nowhere brought any results in civilized democratic states other than harming the opposition,” said Salome Samadashvili, one of the leaders of the Lelo party.

Samadashvili assessed the recent visit of the U.S. Department of State delegation, saying that after a long pause, the U.S. interest in Georgia’s ongoing processes is a positive event.

The leader of the Lelo-Strong Georgia believes that one part of the opposition supporting the boycott is using the US Embassy’s statement and the State Department’s summary document to justify their position.

Salome Samadashvili said she had heard irresponsible statements and unprofessional assessments.

“I would like to state it clearly that if anyone considers the Georgian people foolish, I do not. The opposition has nothing left to say to the Georgian people except for the truth. The passage regarding the boycott is public; anyone who can read and write can read it. It is written black on white that the U.S. side expressed its viewpoint when meeting with opposition representatives, saying they have to defend the interests of the Georgian people and their voters through participation in political processes.

This is the passage on election boycott, which has never and nowhere brought any results in civilized democratic states other than harming the opposition. Our Western partners are not our ill-wishers to support an election boycott that is harmful to the people and produces zero results for the country,” said Salome Samadashvili in her statement released by the Lelo party’s press service.

The U.S. Embassy in Georgia released a statement from the U.S. Department of State representatives, who met Georgian opposition members last week during their visit to Georgia. The statement says: “Democracy requires a political opposition that engages with state institutions in the interests of the citizens who voted for them.”