"This may be a long-term struggle against the regime, but some things are worth it! Fighting in municipalities is worth it! Despite total control, in the six municipalities where the councils are opposition-led, the result that Georgian Dream received in the October 26 election was so low that it gives us something to think about!"

This is how Giorgi Sioridze, a member of Lelo – For Strong Georgia, explains the decision to participate in the local elections.

As Sioridze stated on PalitraNews’ program "Day’s Newsroom," the political struggle should not be limited to just Tbilisi and Rustaveli Avenue.

According to the Lelo representative, local self-government elections are an additional front in the political struggle, and through this front, protest should be increased, strengthened, diversified, and different centers of protest should be created throughout the country.

“We announced our participation in the elections, which probably wasn’t a surprising development for the public. We have spoken about arguments that favor participation in the elections.

We said then, and we say now, that unity within the opposition is so important that we were ready — if such unity had been achieved — to put aside any party interest, including preserving our own party identity.

We spoke about forming a unity with other political parties currently boycotting the elections — a unity that would be important for Georgian society and is in fact a demand of society. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convince those people, and instead of receiving understanding, we were met with undeserved criticism and even attacks against Lelo.

We believe that struggle is the path — a process that must never stop under any circumstances. Theoretically, Bidzina Ivanishvili could imprison everyone, but until the inevitable happens, we do not intend to stop or abandon the fight.

We do not intend to remain passive and serve Bidzina Ivanishvili what he wants on a silver platter.

Ivanishvili wants to eliminate pro-European parties from the political field. Of course, it would have been important for us to attack him with the combined forces of the entire opposition spectrum.

No one will dare change the main demand — which includes holding new parliamentary elections under new rules and with a new election administration, as well as the release of prisoners of conscience.

Will these elections be an unfair fight? Yes, they will! But we will enter these elections, and we will fight.

We do not view the rest of the opposition, who chose a different path, as opponents — they are our fellow fighters. We are friends with them. We have shared the experience of fighting together for a long time, and I am certain that in the future, we will continue to fight side by side,” said Giorgi Sioridze.