Georgian opposition figure urges ‘timely decision’ on elections, questions legitimacy of process

Levan Sanikidze, a member of the opposition bloc Unity – National Movement, has criticised the current state of electoral politics in Georgia, claiming the process has been "so falsified" that it has lost all meaning.

Speaking on Tuesday, Sanikidze urged the opposition party Lelo for Georgia to make a “clear and prompt” decision on their participation in the upcoming elections, noting that he spoke as a voter who was indifferent to the party’s internal affairs.

"As a voter for whom there is no interest in what Lelo does, I would advise them to make a decision regarding the elections in a timely manner," he said.

Sanikidze expressed frustration over what he described as a missed strategic opportunity by the opposition. He suggested that a coordinated electoral boycott by three major coalitions, supported by Georgia’s fifth President Salome Zourabichvili, could have exerted pressure on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

"If such coalitions had refused to participate, we might have created enough political pressure - just as [Zviad] Gamsakhurdia was forced to make concessions to the communists - we could have pushed for similar concessions in these elections. That could have included the release of political prisoners and a slightly fairer Central Election Commission," Sanikidze argued.