Opposition politicians urge pardoned figures to abandon election plans

Leaders of Georgia’s opposition have called on Lelo party founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, recently pardoned by President Mikheil Kavelashvili, to step back from participating in upcoming elections.

Elene Khoshtaria, a leader of the Coalition for Change, said the pardons were politically motivated, aimed at drawing opposition figures into what she described as “illegitimate” polls.

“I want to address Mamuka and Badri directly - take the only right decision for the country, step away from the wrong, Russian-aligned operation, and return to the shared struggle of dissent and resistance,” she said.

While Khoshtaria welcomed the release of Khazaradze and Japaridze as personal freedom, she warned that the move could be used by the ruling Georgian Dream party to “push” opposition forces to October 4 local elections. 

President Kavelashvili granted clemency earlier on Friday, framing the decision as a measure to ensure a competitive electoral environment.