Khazaradze Addresses Speculation Over Lelo's Election Participation
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Mamuka Khazaradze, chairman of Lelo - For a Strong Georgia, responds to comments made by the coalition's secretary general, Irakli Kupradze, regarding participation in the upcoming local elections.
"I would like to respond to the statement made by Lelo - For a Strong Georgia's Secretary General, Irakli Kupradze, during a televised interview, in which he said that opposition coalitions need to agree on a unified strategy around the local elections.
Our demand for snap elections and the release of political prisoners remains firmly on the agenda - it has not been removed, and will not be removed, under any possible scenario. We will fight for this to the end, uncompromisingly.
The dismantling of Bidzina Ivanishvili's Russian-style regime is only possible through a unified strategy and the consolidation of pro-European forces - not as it happened previously, when all coalitions but us abandoned the presidential format. We were the initiators of a unified front and have remained committed to it from the very beginning.
Let me add: no amount of hysteria or pressure will derail a healthy discussion or the development of a winning strategy," Khazaradze wrote.
He noted that he is currently outside the country and will provide a more detailed explanation upon his return.
On June 2, Irakli Kupradze stated that "serious deliberation on the local elections needs to begin." He also said that "it is possible to take and liberate Tbilisi from the malicious, violent, and pro-Russian rule of Georgian Dream."
These remarks sparked speculation that Lelo - For a Strong Georgia may be preparing to take part in the October municipal elections - a move that has drawn criticism from some of the opposition-aligned members of the public.
Roughly a week earlier, Giorgi Gakharia, chairman of the For Georgia party, made a similar comment during his party's congress, stating that they are preparing "for any upcoming election."
