"For People" party will not participate in the upcoming local elections, it would be unjustified to lead supporters into this kind of sacrifice. Such a statement made today the leader of party, Anna Dolidze.

"Today, a serious situation has developed in the country. The main question many are asking is whether the For People party and I, Ana Dolidze, will participate in the upcoming local self-government elections - what the Georgian Dream cynically refers to as elections, but which we see as a political sacrifice.

First and foremost, I want to address political prisoners - those who are risking their lives and health, standing firm in the fight for a better, European future for Georgia. Our party has decided that participation in these elections is unjustified. We will not enable the current regime, which merely claims to be a legitimate government, to use our participation as a pretext to claim that elections were conducted fairly in the eyes of the international community.

We don`t consider the upcoming local elections to be any kind of contest, because there are no conditions of competitiveness present. On one side stand sincere, determined citizens. On the other, a system of oppression and repression, upheld by a judiciary subservient to the Georgian Dream. Under these conditions, we refuse to lead our supporters into a process that we believe is a trap.

At the same time, For People has decided not to join the election boycott. In an atmosphere of public apathy, we believe it is counterproductive to spend time and energy traveling across the country simply to ask people not to act. The Georgian people already know where justice lies - and where it does not.

We must remain focused on our primary goal, which is advancing Georgia`s European integration. To achieve that goal, the release of political prisoners and the conduct of new, fair parliamentary elections are essential. That is where our energy is directed", - said Ana Dolidze.