Opposition leader Khazaradze: ‘no to Russian elections’ slogan misguided

Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the opposition party Lelo – Strong Georgia, has criticised the part of opposition’s slogan “no to Russian elections” ahead of the forthcoming municipal vote as a distraction from more pressing demands, urging instead a unified call for new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners arrested during pro-European protests. 

In a social media post on Tuesday, Khazaradze argued that boycotting upcoming local elections would only strengthen the ruling Georgian Dream party’s grip on power.

“‘No to Russian elections’ is a loss of focus,” he wrote. “The demand should be ‘Yes to new parliamentary elections’ and ‘Freedom for prisoners of conscience.’”

Khazaradze insisted that Georgian Dream’s alleged illegitimacy has already been recognised at the international level and should serve as the foundation for a coordinated opposition strategy. He warned that avoiding regional contests would “cement the Georgian Dream at all levels” of government.

He also addressed internal divisions within the opposition, criticising what he described as “attacks, insults, and bullying” directed at those who pursue different strategies in the struggle against what he called “Ivanishvili’s Russian regime.”