საინფორმაციო სააგენტო ინტერპრესნიუსი

"Those who say they will not participate in the local elections and those who call on others not to participate are, in reality, enemies of democracy and supporters of extremist movements," said the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, in a conversation with journalists.

According to him, the participation or non-participation of opposition parties in the local elections "has no impact on the legitimacy of the elections."

"Their [opposition parties’] participation or non-participation has absolutely no influence on the legitimacy of the elections. They know they will be defeated once again—the Georgian people will not grant them any mandate. Another defeat will confirm their dire situation.

Therefore, I believe it would be even better if extremist parties do not participate in the local elections, allowing for a final reset of the political landscape in Georgia. That’s why I urge them and their foreign patrons to push them in this direction—to refuse participation. One of the radical politicians, former President Zurabishvili, will be in the Baltic countries these days, and hopefully, her patrons will call on her from there as well not to participate in the elections. Extremism must ultimately be defeated in Georgia. The extremist political agenda must be eradicated, and parties serving foreign interests must come to an end in our country.

As for the non-parliamentary opposition and their participation in the elections, of course, a democratic party exists to participate in elections, measure its support among the population, and secure some level of governmental mandate. When a party refuses to participate in elections, it declares that it is not a democratic party but an extremist one.

Once again, those who say they will not participate in the local elections and those who encourage others to abstain are, in fact, enemies of democracy and supporters of extremist movements," Papuashvili stated, adding, "Georgian Dream will participate in the local elections and will win in all 64 municipalities."