Georgian expert urges opposition election boycott without key reforms

Political analyst Kakha Gogolashvili on Wednesday called on the opposition to boycott upcoming municipal elections in October unless key democratic reforms are implemented.

Gogolashvili outlined three preconditions he believed were essential for restoring trust in Georgia’s political process – a reformed electoral environment, the repeal of controversial laws seen as undermining democracy, and the unconditional release of political prisoners arrested during pro-European protests.

“Without fulfilling these three conditions, of course, the opposition should declare a complete boycott,” Gogolashvili said, adding that such a move would carry “more moral force.”

Gogolashvili also dismissed the idea of negotiations with the ruling party, stating that Georgian Dream “will not go to the opposition on any conditions or reservations.”

He also questioned the legitimacy of the upcoming elections if the current political climate remained unchanged. “If they are illegitimate, this should remain a topic of protest,” he said, emphasizing that the call for new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners “must remain central” to the opposition’s agenda.