Pardoned opposition leaders say election participation plans remain unchanged

Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leaders of the opposition coalition Strong Georgia – Lelo, have said their decision to participate in upcoming local elections remained unchanged, following their pardon by President Mikheil Kavelashvili and calls by other groups to abandon the plans. 

Speaking after their release from prison on Friday, Khazaradze said the presidential clemency appeared aimed at creating division within the opposition. “We deliberately took this step while in prison. Despite our release, this is a manipulative act intended to provoke conflict on the opposition flank,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as selective justice for other “political prisoners” still serving sentences for similar charges - rejecting a parliamentary commission probing alleged crimes under the United National Movement government - and said the coalition had already made the decision to run in the elections prior to their release.

Japaridze echoed the comments, stressing that their stance on elections had not changed. “Our position is the same as it was when we were imprisoned 74 days ago - we continue to fight for Georgia’s European future, for the release of political prisoners, and for new elections. Our release was not at our request; it was a decision by Georgian Dream,” he said.

Both leaders said their decision to participate was independent and called for the release of “all remaining political prisoners.”