According to the Gakharia for Georgia party, the local self-government election campaign is taking place in an unfair, Georgian Dream-oriented, non-competitive environment.`

As Zaza Tavadze, a member of the Political Council of the Gakharia for Georgia party, noted at a briefing held today, Georgian Dream is trying to use intimidation and pressure to make several candidates agreed upon with Gakharia for Georgia party refuse to participate in the elections.

In addition, according to them, Georgian Dream intends to continue to falsify the election process using pressure, intimidation, and administrative resources.

“The campaign for the local self-government elections of October 4, 2025, as expected, is taking place in an extremely unfair, Dream-oriented, non-competitive environment, which grossly restricts the right to free choice provided for by the Constitution of Georgia. The Dream regime, using pressure, intimidation and administrative resources, intends to continue to rig the election process. The so-called government is trying to prevent real competition and a fair political process in order to preserve and prolong the money and power stolen from the people. In particular: 1. The election administration is fully controlled by the ruling party; 2. Some opposition leaders have been arrested, the civil service has been “cleansed”; a large number of citizens with different opinions have been made political prisoners; 3. Observers and the media are severely restricted: including by adopting a more severe version of the “Russian law”; 4. International monitoring has been practically abolished - the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission has not been invited; 5. Systematic pressure is being exerted on voters. Repressions are underway in educational institutions, in particular, school and kindergarten teachers are being forced to engage in election campaigning and also in fraud.

In a number of municipalities and regions, for example, Chokhatauri, Bagdati, Ninotsminda, Kobuleti, Poti, Lanchkhuti and Kakheti, various types of pressure are being observed on the mayoral and majoritarian candidates of our political force Gakharia for Georgia. In particular, by using various threats, the regime is trying to make already agreed candidates refuse to run. The Dream regime is trying to completely close the space for exposing violations, creating the illusion that there are no problems.

The ultimate goal of the government is to make elections meaningless. Against this background, the only way to save elections as a mechanism for democratic change is to participate in the elections and show high turnout, which should outweigh the scale of election fraud. Unfortunately, against this, the government and part of the opposition are jointly conducting a campaign of intimidation and bullying. Our political force Gakharia for Georgia once again declares: we will not give up power to the Dream, we will not leave the voters face to face with the Dream regime alone,” said Zaza Tavadze.