Opposition leader: "Participation in local elections means legitimizing regime"

Khatia Dekanoidze, Deputy Chair of the National Committee of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), says that participating in the upcoming local elections under the current status quo would amount to granting additional legitimacy to the ruling regime.

Speaking about the fragmented state of the opposition, Dekanoidze warned that ruling Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili is counting on division and disunity to secure his hold on power.

“Ivanishvili knows there's a red line – a place we must reach. But he also knows that, due to our internal disagreements and fragmentation, we will crawl to that point weakened. That is our defeat. Our fragmentation weakens the opposition, the media, and the few remaining islands of freedom — and it only strengthens Bidzina Ivanishvili. That’s how I see it,” she stated.

Dekanoidze emphasized that entering elections without addressing the current political crisis, including the existence of political prisoners and the targeting of opposition leaders in international debates, would be a strategic mistake.

“When political prisoners remain behind bars and our leaders are being discussed in the Council of Europe, maintaining a united front and finding a formula for unity is, in my view, essential. That must emerge,” she said.

She called on opposition parties and civil society to create a common platform and open dialogue, rather than engaging in internal disputes, especially while government pressure on opponents continues.

“While one of us is being arrested, others are fighting among themselves. We all need to be cautious and aim for a shared format of cooperation and discussion — including with representatives of society — to explain why we hold our positions and what might happen next,” Dekanoidze concluded.