**Opposition Parties in Georgia: Not a Boycott, but Pressure on the Regime**
In an interview with PalitraNews’ “Day’s Newsroom”, Akaki Bobokhidze, a representative of the “European Georgia” party, clarified the opposition’s stance on the upcoming local elections scheduled for October 4. The opposition has been vocal about their disapproval of these elections, labeling them as illegitimate.
“We are not planning a boycott,” emphasized Bobokhidze. “These elections simply do not exist!” He explained that the opposition is focused on finding ways to exert pressure on the regime, both domestically and internationally, to force it to hold new, fair elections. The term “boycott” has been used by some opposition parties, but according to Bobokhidze, this doesn’t accurately describe their strategy.
**Elections as a Legitimate Process?**
Bobokhidze questioned the legitimacy of the October 4 elections, stating that they cannot be considered legitimate because they are being held in an unfair environment. “A boycott can be declared against a legitimate process if you deem it inexpedient as a political step,” he said. “In this case, we cannot even talk about a boycott because the process simply does not exist—there are no fair elections in this country, neither legally nor factually.”
**Calls for Other Parties to Reconsider Participation**
Bobokhidze expressed hope that other opposition parties, such as Giorgi Gakharia’s party and “Lelo for Strong Georgia”, will reconsider their decision to participate in the elections. He urged them to change their minds until it’s too late, stating that it’s never too late to correct a mistake.
**The Role of Opposition Parties**
Bobokhidze also discussed the importance of opposition parties in representing the Georgian people externally. He noted that the support from the West is a result of the opposition’s efforts and emphasized that it would be preferable to have more coordination among opposition parties.
“We need someone to represent the Georgian people, and that someone is precisely the opposition,” Bobokhidze said. Despite public dissatisfaction with the opposition, he believes that their work is crucial in securing international support.
