Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili voiced strong criticism of the upcoming local elections, calling the decision to participate "surprising and incomprehensible" given the country’s current political climate, including the presence of more than 60 political prisoners.
During a public briefing, Zourabichvili emphasized that since the 2024 parliamentary elections, there have been no changes to the Central Election Commission, while the legal framework, political environment, and media freedom have significantly deteriorated.
“Every day we see what is happening in the courts – no one can have any trust in them,” she said, asserting that the current judiciary is incapable of impartially handling election-related disputes.
She further warned that media censorship is increasing, referencing a recent complaint filed with the regulatory commission, which imposes new restrictions on freedom of expression and could lead to fines or license suspensions.
Zourabichvili also criticized the lack of freedom of assembly, noting the difficulty of finding accessible public spaces even in Tbilisi. Additionally, she argued that recent changes to the Electoral Code not only fail to prevent fraud but worsen election transparency and limit the rights of observers. She pointed out that international observers rarely monitor local elections, and that the diaspora is excluded from participating in them.
“Under these conditions... I don’t see how this could lead to victory rather than public disappointment – especially among those who have been protesting for months, and those in prison,” she said.
Zourabichvili concluded by questioning the legitimacy of elections held while opposition political leaders remain behind bars, casting doubt on the possibility of any election being considered free or fair under such circumstances.
