Local elections are a lifeline for Ivanishvili to somehow gain legitimacy both within and outside the country. Therefore, whoever fulfills the role of this lifeline cannot be perceived as a real opposition force. They will become a systemic opposition, absorbed by Ivanishvili’s system, stated Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of the “Unity National Movement,” while discussing the potential participation of opposition parties in local elections.

According to his assessment, anyone participating in these elections from the opposition will be seen as a capitulator.

“Regarding participation in these elections, when a dictatorship has been established in the country and the rules of the game are unconstitutional, agreeing to these rules means precisely capitulation and recognition of Ivanishvili’s dictatorial laws and system.

When constitutional principles are trampled in the country, and the main problem with the system is its lack of legitimacy both domestically and internationally, participating in so-called elections in this situation is practically the only lifeline for it. Therefore, in reality, it is the opposite—those who participate will be capitulators from the opposition. When we talk about any electoral process under a system that is becoming increasingly repressive, with no trust in it, and when measures have been taken against NGOs preventing them from observing elections, expecting trust in the electoral process to increase—especially after parliamentary elections were totally rigged and you didn’t enter parliament—is obviously inadequate. This is even more so when you speak about this while knowing the positions of the families of political prisoners, the public gathered on Rustaveli Avenue, and the two major parties that received the most votes in Ivanishvili’s rigged elections. Therefore, I believe all of this is insincere, particularly in the case of Mr. Khazaradze when he says these things,” Pavlenishvili stated.