Lelo - Strong Georgia Confirms Participation in Local Elections Amid Internal Division and Opposition Backlash
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, July 7, 2025
The opposition coalition Lelo - Strong Georgia has officially announced its decision to take part in the October 4 local self-government elections. The announcement was made by the party's Secretary General Irakli Kupradze during a briefing held at the coalition's headquarters.
According to Kupradze, the coalition is entering the elections as part of broader fight against the "Russian regime" and the "de facto authorities" currently in power. He called on the public and the pro-Western opposition to join in "total resistance" against what he called dictatorship and repression.
"This is not just a local election. October 4 is a battle in de facto elections against a de facto government," Kupradze said. "We are ready for full engagement, for resistance, for repression and even for imprisonment. We propose coalition cooperation with the pro-Western opposition. This is not a time for retreat but for unity."
The decision has triggered a wave of criticism and resignations from within the party and across the opposition spectrum.
Three senior members of Lelo - Strong Georgia : Saba Buadze, Dea Metreveli, and Ana Natsvlishvili have resigned from the party's Political Council in protest. Buadze, who also led the party's Tbilisi branch, and Metreveli, who served as Executive Secretary, announced their decisions, expressing concern that participating in the elections under current conditions contradicts the opposition's earlier commitment to boycott. Natsvlishvili stated that while she does not support the party's choice, she rejects claims that any members were "bought."
The backlash extended beyond the party itself. Chairwoman of United National Movement, Tina Bokuchava, issued a strongly worded statement accusing Lelo of betraying the opposition's common struggle. She described the decision as Lelo's "moral death" and predicted their "electoral death" in October.
"This is not a fight to save the country, but a deal with the regime for an honorable second place," Bokuchava wrote. "I would not be surprised if Mikheil Kavelashvili personally pardons Lelo's leaders, just to wrap them in the cloak of collusion."
The party Freedom Square also criticized the decision, calling it a political risk for the broader opposition. In a written statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to an active boycott and said they would focus on building an alternative democratic movement instead of turning the opposition into a battlefield.
Coalition for Change leader Elene Khoshtaria said a 4-percent party like Lelo does not determine Georgia's fate," she said. "Whether they are weak or traitors, let history judge that. Let us focus on our work."
The internal dissent continued with detailed statements from departing members. Buadze emphasized his disagreement with the decision and described it as a serious mistake. Metreveli called the move inconsistent with the principled stance taken by imprisoned party leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. Natsvlishvili cited the opposition's failure to form a unified strategy for the elections and warned that the absence of consensus weakened the pro-Western front.
Despite the criticism, Kupradze reiterated the coalition's commitment to joining forces with other pro-European parties. He maintained that the elections represent a crucial front in the fight against the regime, not a routine political event.
The October 4 elections come amid a deepening political crisis and mounting allegations of authoritarianism against the ruling Georgian Dream party. The Strong Georgia coalition was formed prior to the contested 2024 parliamentary elections and had previously refused to take seats in the current parliament.
