Former President Zourabichvili says she will not vote in elections, but join rally instead

Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, on Friday said she would not participate in Saturday’s local elections, calling them a “farce,” and said she would instead stand with citizens at a peaceful rally.

“I will not go to the elections tomorrow. I will be with my people at the peaceful demonstration, as I have been at all major rallies and will continue to be, until the end, for as long as it is needed,” Zourabichvili said.

She stressed that in her view, no free and fair elections would be held in Georgia on Saturday, describing the vote as “dictatorship-era elections” and “mockery of society”.

Responding to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s remarks about “attempts to overthrow the Government,” Zourabichvili rejected the claims as “false” and “insulting,” insisting the protest movement had remained “resolutely peaceful” for more than 300 days.

She added that the Government was attempting to discredit the opposition and “undermine the genuine peaceful protest” that she said had demonstrated resilience and non-violence.

Zourabichvili concluded that she would continue to stand alongside citizens: “I will not go to the elections tomorrow. I will be with my people at the peaceful demonstration, as I have been at all major rallies, and will continue to be until the very end”.