Georgia’s opposition divided as fifth President launches ‘resistance platform’

Several opposition parties in Georgia opted out of the inaugural meeting of the ‘resistance platform,’ an initiative announced by the country’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, aimed at uniting pro-European forces against the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), dismissed the platform as “illusory and ceremonial,” citing its inability to achieve consensus on crucial matters such as boycotting local elections in October. This stance, the party noted, was significantly influenced by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s refusal to support an electoral boycott. Gakharia now chairs the opposition For Georgia party.

Zourabichvili first proposed the ‘resistance platform’ during a mass protest on Monday, calling on pro-European parties to unite despite political differences to achieve two key objectives – securing new, fair elections and obtaining the release of “political prisoners” arrested during ongoing protests sparked by the Government’s decision late last year to halt the country’s EU integration until 2028.

Following the meeting with opposition leaders on Tuesday, Zourabichvili emphasized the need for coordination, acknowledging that while general agreements were reached, individual parties might still present differing views. “This form of coordination begins work today,” she said, adding that addressing political prisoners and resisting the Georgian Dream’s legislative actions would be central to the platform’s goals.

“The parties gathered here have a united position: we are moving toward elections and the release of political prisoners through peaceful means. We reject alternative paths that others might consider,” Zourabichvili affirmed.

The ‘resistance platform’ has so far gained the support of several opposition groups, including the Federalists, Gakharia’s For Georgia, Freedom Square, European Georgia, and Strategy Agmashenebeli.
However, other opposition forces such as Girchi – More Freedom, ‘Ahali,’ and the United National Movement declined to participate. The UNM, which had engaged in previous discussions with Zourabichvili, has voiced skepticism about the initiative’s effectiveness. Party chairwoman Tina Bokuchava recently criticized the president for not pardoning former leader Mikheil Saakashvili and accused her of sharing responsibility for his extended prison sentence.

During a protest on Monday, UNM supporters reportedly confronted Zourabichvili with chants questioning her stance on the 2008 war with Russia, while banners of Saakashvili were displayed behind her.

Despite its absence from the inaugural meeting, the UNM indicated a willingness to engage with the platform on an “ad hoc basis.”

Bokuchava clarified that the party would consider participation if discussions focused on barring local elections until political prisoners were released and parliamentary elections were scheduled. “We have no time to waste on illusory formats while Ivanishvili’s regime is dismantling the state and aligning us with Russia,” she warned.

Zurab Japaridze, leader of Girchi – More Freedom, echoed concerns about the lack of a unified opposition stance. He noted that while the opposition broadly agreed on the necessity of new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners, divisions persisted on fundamental strategic issues.

“If a new, coordinated direction emerges, I am open to participation,” Japaridze said. “However, we need agreement on principled issues – such as refusing to legitimize the regime – and a clear strategy to communicate with and mobilize the public.”