Georgian Opposition Boycotts Elections Amid Sweeping Political Arrests

A major political crisis is unfolding in Georgia as a coalition of eight opposition parties has announced a boycott of the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for October. In a joint statement, prominent groups including the United National Movement, European Georgia, and Strategy Agmashenebeli declared that participating in the polls would grant a false sense of legitimacy to the ruling “Georgian Dream” party.

“We believe the path to victory lies in complete non-cooperation with the regime,” the unified opposition stated. The decision, however, has highlighted deep fractures among the government’s critics. Parties such as “Lelo” and “For Georgia” have refused to join the boycott, insisting on the importance of electoral engagement. “We must always be in an election campaign. It is precisely because we are not in a campaign that we are in such a difficult situation,” argued Lelo leader Irakli Kupradze.

The political standoff has been marked by dramatic gestures, including a brief hunger strike by “Droa” party leader Elene Khoshtaria to pressure other opposition groups into joining the boycott. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze openly mocked the move, stating, “This might be a world first, where an opposition member goes on a hunger strike to make demands of other opposition members. This speaks to the dire situation the radical opposition is in.”

The opposition’s boycott directly contradicts a recent appeal from the European Parliament, which had urged them to use the elections to demonstrate unity and popular support for democracy. Adding to the tension, the Georgian government announced it will not invite observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a decision the opposition labels as a clear step towards authoritarianism. Kobakhidze defended the move, claiming OSCE missions are typically reserved for parliamentary, not local, elections.

This political battle is taking place against a backdrop of a severe government crackdown on its opponents. The opposition’s ability to compete has been systematically dismantled, with leaders of several major parties arrested or facing criminal charges. The list includes the leaders of “Lelo,” Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, as well as Giorgi Vashadze of “Strategy Agmashenebeli” and Zurab Japaridze of “Girchi – More Freedom.” All are being prosecuted for failing to comply with a parliamentary commission.

A particularly high-profile case involves former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the “For Georgia” party. Currently in Germany, he faces the threat of arrest if he returns. Prosecutors have accused him of deliberately installing a police checkpoint near the conflict line with South Ossetia in 2019 to provoke a new conflict. Ironically, Gakharia was promoted to Prime Minister by “Georgian Dream” immediately following that very action.

Political analyst Nika Chitadze noted that the arrests are a clear strategy by “Georgian Dream” to disarm its competitors before the vote. With a significant portion of the opposition urging a boycott, the protest electorate may not even turn up to the polls. Observers fear the combination of a divided opposition, widespread arrests, and the absence of international monitors sets a dangerous precedent for Georgia’s democratic future, with one opposition member grimly warning the country risks becoming “one large open-air prison.”