Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, asserts that participating in local elections is futile unless the Georgian Dream fulfils two essential conditions: the release of political prisoners and the call for new parliamentary elections.

According to Japaridze, engaging in local elections under the current circumstances would effectively extinguish the incentive for protest and weaken the regime’s ongoing foreign sanctions and non-recognition.

“Giorgi Gakharia has yet to make a definitive statement regarding his intention to participate in the elections. He has indicated that he is considering this option. However, I firmly believe that if the two aforementioned conditions—namely, the release of political prisoners and the establishment of new parliamentary elections in collaboration with major opposition groups—are not met, participation in local elections lacks any meaningful purpose.

On the contrary, it would signify a death knell for the protest incentive while also compromising the regime’s foreign sanctions and non-recognition, which we have managed to uphold thus far,” he stated.

During a live broadcast on TV Pirveli on April 15, Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the Gakharia for Georgia party, confirmed that his party is actively preparing for the local elections.