Speaking on Rustaveli Avenue, Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, declared that no one intends to participate in local elections if they are held under the current rules and manipulation of the ruling party, Georgian Dream.

Zurabishvili emphasized that parliamentary elections should take precedence, or at the very least, be held simultaneously with local elections. “Georgian Dream brought up the issue of local elections just as they previously did with parliamentary entry—back then, no one entered, and now, no one intends to take part in elections conducted under their control,” she stated.

She called for serious preparation, advocating for new electoral rules developed within the framework of the Resistance Platform, which would serve as preconditions for any elections. Zurabishvili also stressed the importance of organizing a robust corps of election observers and urged the diaspora to begin registering in advance.

“This is our shared responsibility—to ensure that the opposition can safeguard every citizen’s vote. That is the formula for victory, and I am fully convinced we will see it through,” she concluded.