“Under current conditions, not only participating in local elections but even thinking about it is simply immoral,” United National Movement member Levan Sanikidze stated at a briefing.

According to him, several issues must be resolved before one can even consider participating in any kind of elections in this country.

“We have a very clearly formulated position that in the existing status quo, under current conditions, not only participating in local elections but even thinking about it is simply immoral. We should understand clearly that the author of the current political crisis is, on one hand, Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze with his statement, but on the other hand, the Georgian people who decided that the current government—and of course, we in the opposition were actively involved in the delegitimization process. We have political prisoners, the date for new parliamentary elections is unknown, and there are ongoing daily repressions against civil activists, media, and non-governmental organizations. From the Georgian Dream government, we hear statements claiming that apparently April 9 wasn’t orchestrated by the Russians, that apparently Giorgi Antsukhelidze is not a hero and we don’t need such heroes, and Kobakhidze’s statement yesterday that people who are in constant labour are what this country needs more. I was a child when I first saw the footage of Antsukhelidze’s torture.

I don’t think Giorgi Antsukhelidze was dying for anyone’s PR—this is an insult not only to Giorgi Antsukhelidze but to each one of us, and there should be some care in choosing words. Georgian Dream is testing both our civic dignity and personal dignity. Regarding the issue of local elections, these minimal points are accompanied by the current state of the Central Election Commission, plus the question of who should conduct these elections, who should be the administrator—Tea Tsulukiani and Irakli Kobakhidze again? Clarifying these issues and conditions is essential for even considering participation in any kind of elections in this country,” Sanikidze declared.

He also added that the demand of society in this country is a change of government, not adapting to the role of a systemic opposition.

“Political organizations that assert Bidzina Ivanishvili is establishing a dictatorship in this country—an undeniable reality—should already be organized; this doesn’t even require electoral preparation. If we claim we are fighting for survival, a political party should be prepared regardless. In this context, Gakharia’s statement is utterly perplexing to me and diverges from the sentiments of the protest participants, the families of political prisoners, and the hundreds of thousands of affected individuals. Has a normal situation truly returned to the country? Should we shift into pre-election mode? Especially given that the one-party parliament and this government are unlikely to change, the focus should be on meeting society’s demands. In this country, society is calling for a change of government, not merely adjusting to a role as systemic opposition by securing a few seats in city councils,” Sanikidze stated.