**Opposition Leader Levan Sanikidze on Upcoming Elections and Relations with Western Partners**
Levan Sanikidze, a leader of the party “Unity – National Movement,” has spoken out about the upcoming elections in Georgia. In an interview with Palitra News’ program “Day’s Newsroom,” he criticized the decision of several opposition parties, including “Lelo” and Gakharia’s party, to participate in the elections.
Sanikidze believes that these parties are only competing for second place and trying to gain the status of main opposition. He stated that if they participate in the elections, Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili will win with ease and without any electoral fraud. Sanikidze argued that a boycott is a stronger form of resistance than participating in a pseudo-battle.
**A Boycott: A Stronger Form of Resistance**
Sanikidze emphasized that a boycott requires more sacrifice than participating in the elections, but it’s a more effective way to confront Georgian Dream. He mentioned that the best scenario would be for “Lelo” not to persist in its mistake and instead focus on building a strong opposition.
The opposition politician also responded to the OSCE Secretary General’s statement that it’s unfair to the people who voted for the opposition if they don’t use their parliamentary mandate. Sanikidze stated that this stance is an extremely exceptional position within the West, as most Western partners believe in a coalition-based, pro-Western opposition government.
**Western Partners’ Stance on Georgia**
Sanikidze criticized the current state of relations between Georgia and its Western partners. He noted that American presidents and secretaries of state used to visit Georgia every six months, but now the Foreign Ministry is busy posting staged photos with deputy foreign ministers of small island states. This, he said, reflects a lack of interest in the country’s situation.
Sanikidze also commented on the statement made by the Israeli Embassy regarding Georgian Dream’s representative attending a solidarity event at the Iranian Embassy. He stated that Israel should take decisive action against Georgian Dream for their pro-Iranian stance and solidarity with the “terrorist regime.”
**Confronting Georgian Dream**
The opposition politician emphasized that Georgia’s Western partners must pass judgment on this government, which has been accused of serious human rights abuses and electoral fraud. Sanikidze urged further discussions with the Israeli Embassy to address these concerns.
In conclusion, Levan Sanikidze’s statements highlight the complexities of the upcoming elections in Georgia and the country’s relations with its Western partners. His call for a boycott and confrontation with Georgian Dream reflects the opposition’s desire to challenge the current government and push for change.
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