“Political prisoners are behind bars, new captives have been taken—including opposition party leaders. The very word ‘elections’ here is a crime. This is Ivanishvili’s orchestrated performance,” declared Levan Khabeishvili, Chair of the United National Movement (UNM) Political Council.

In his remarks on social media regarding the upcoming local elections, Khabeishvili emphasized that participation in these so-called elections under Ivanishvili’s conditions would amount to a formal collaboration with the regime.

“Under the guise of sanctioned figures like Kalandarishvili (CEC Chair), Ivanishvili, and their Russian allies, anyone who considers participating in this theatrical performance—what they call an election—becomes an actor in Ivanishvili’s play, an accomplice of the regime. Political prisoners are behind bars, and new captives have been taken—including opposition party leaders. The very word ‘elections’ here is a crime. This is Ivanishvili’s orchestrated performance,” he asserted.

“Ivanishvili must not stage this farce, and we must unite around this idea: Georgia without Ivanishvili. Bidzina must be removed from power,” he concluded.