Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili called for street protests and civil disobedience instead of electoral participation, arguing that when democratic processes are undermined, taking to the streets becomes “a necessary path.”

In a Facebook post, he compared Georgia’s situation to the Rose Revolution, the Maidan protests, and the Arab Spring, saying these movements began in the streets — and so should the response when the “vote is stolen.”

Addressing those who believe politics will die without elections, Saakashvili countered, “You cannot take part in something that doesn’t exist.”

He recounted a moment from the early 2000s, when political figures debated the legitimacy of street demonstrations. A visiting professor interrupted to say: “Why are you afraid of street demonstrations? This is surely the most legitimate and effective means of politics.”

Saakashvili claimed Georgian Dream won only 20% of the vote, and urged the remaining 70% to shift their efforts to protests, strikes, and social media, rather than “playing by the rules of a Russian occupation dictatorship.”

“This may not happen in two or three days,” he wrote, “but whoever takes the right path, success and victory will be theirs.”