Nine Parties Unite in ‘Opposition Alliance’, Sign Strategic Coordination Document

2026-03-02 - 17:15

Nine Georgian political parties announced uniting in an “opposition alliance,” signing a coordination document to work towards a goal of “saving national independence and statehood,” as the country remains caught in a protracted political crisis marked by Georgian Dream’s crackdown and continuous anti-government protests. The 5-chapter document, which lays out steps to be taken for “the peaceful dismantling of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream’s autocratic, criminal regime” and has a code of conduct attached, was published after a two-hour meeting in Tbilisi on the evening of March 2, and follows weeks of rumors about talks among opposition leaders. Among the signatories are Ahali, Girchi-More Freedom, Droa, United National Movement (UNM), Strategy Aghmashenebeli, European Georgia, National Democratic Party, as well as newer forces such as the Federalists and Freedom Square. The coalition does not include two large forces – Lelo/Strong Georgia and former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party, a split that stems from the 2025 local elections, when the two parties chose to defy the opposition boycott and take part in the vote. Gakharia’s party also reversed its initial parliamentary boycott that followed the 2024 general elections and assumed mandates in the disputed legislature in October. The For People party, led by Ana Dolidze, and the libertarian Girchi party are also absent from the new unity. “We create a unity to win together,” Ahali party leader Nika Gvaramia told journalists after leaving the meeting. “We agree on the joint direction, joint actions, we don’t reject our political identities, we don’t create some unified list,” he added, noting that political unity is important as a precondition for a “social unity.” What’s in the document: The document consists of four chapters, setting a strategic goal of “saving national independence and statehood,” a strategic principle that “changing the regime is the vital interest of the critical majority,” a strategic mission to convince the majority that “action is necessary,” as well as a “unity without uniformity” principle. The document also includes a separate Code of Conduct, which focuses on principles of cooperation, “equality and mutual recognition,” standards for political responsibility, standards for responsibility for the protest process, and the fair competition principle. 1. Strategic Goal of “Saving National Independence and Statehood” According to the chapter, the goal of the alliance is “the peaceful dismantling of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream’s autocratic, criminal regime and the preservation of Georgia’s sovereignty, through ending isolation from the West and establishing democratic governance.” The chapter also states that winning this battle “vitally requires the coordination of our national, democratic forces, because only in this way will we achieve the unity of Georgian society around a strategic goal, which is the survival of the Georgian state.” 2. Strategic Principle: “Regime Change Is Vital Interest of Critical Majority The chapter states: “An autocratic regime will change only when the overwhelming majority of Georgia’s citizens see their vital interest in a change of regime; when they believe that the existing system threatens their freedom, security, and dignified future, and that maintaining the regime means inevitable poverty, corruption, and injustice. An autocratic regime will change only when the overwhelming majority of Georgia’s citizens see that there exists a strong, responsible, and democratic alternative capable of transforming peaceful and powerful protest energy into the necessary political change and of saving Georgian democracy and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future. An autocratic regime will change only when the overwhelming majority of Georgia’s citizens believe that peaceful popular protest has no alternative, and engage in resistance.” 3. Strategic Mission of Opposition Alliance The chapter sets as the main mission of the opposition “to show the overwhelming majority of Georgia’s citizens their vital interest in change and to convince them that action is necessary.” To achieve this, the parties pledge to “Expose Ivanishvili’s repressive and corrupt machine in order to engage more and more citizens in peaceful resistance; confront the regime’s propaganda by convincing society that it is precisely Ivanishvili’s regime that poses a threat to peace, because it leaves Georgia alone in the face of Russia, in international isolation, without partners or friends; talk intensively both about a joint strategy for regime change and about the coordinated steps to be taken immediately after the regime is changed.” The chapter further pledges to “convince society that we serve the interests of the citizens, not the instincts of any oligarchic and/or autocratic leader, and we will rule out replacing the existing regime with a new autocratic or oligarchic system.” 4. Strategic Principle of Opposition Alliance: Unity Without Uniformity According to the chapter, the agreement “does not imply full ideological alignment, a merger of parties, or the formation of a bloc around any party or leader; however, it does not rule out a future electoral unity agreement among the signatory parties.” In the chapter, the parties say they: “Don’t recognize the regime and do not participate in any process that serves to legitimize the regime or helps discredit peaceful popular protest. We fight to the end, and we envision victory only through the release of political prisoners and the achievement of new, free, and fair elections.” Consider peaceful protest processes “the primary instrument for defeating the regime,” prioritizing “the mobilization, organization, and expansion of resistance.” “Work to maintain and strengthen international pressure against the regime,” “Will develop a unified communication strategy,” “Will conduct a campaign on the necessary and immediate steps to be taken after the regime is changed.” In the chapter, the parties also pledge to “act with a unified strategy to achieve free and fair elections and the release of political prisoners,” and to “form a democratic, coalition government that will implement the necessary reforms to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty and fulfill the goals of Euro-Atlantic integration” after “defeating Ivanishvili’s regime in free and fair elections.” The chapter then invokes the Georgian Charter initiated by Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia’s fifth president, which includes “free and fair electoral rules,” reform of the judiciary, repealing “Russian” laws “restricting freedom of speech, media, and civil society,” reform of the security system, and returning to the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. The reports about the talks of an “opposition unity” intensified after some of the key opposition leaders left prison after serving months for defying a Georgian Dream parliamentary commission. Some others, including Ahali’s Nika Melia and Droa’s Elene Khoshtaria, remain behind bars, either awaiting trial or convicted on separate charges, while many opposition leaders in the new coalition also face years in prison on serious sabotage-related charges. While some of the big players, like Lelo and Gakharia/For Georgia, are absent, the new unity still represents an effort to overcome the persistent splits in the opposition, characterized by continuous infighting. That includes Federalists sitting at the same table with Ahali and UNM despite longtime heated exchanges and disagreement between the parties. The attempt to achieve unity comes amid continued appeals from government critics for the parties to coordinate a joint strategy and present a viable political alternative amid the continued political crisis. Georgians have been protesting nonstop for more than 450 days following GD’s November 28, 2024 announcement on suspending EU integration. The ruling party has sought to stifle dissent through a series of repressive laws and actions. Two of the parties in the new unity, UNM and Ahali, face pending constitutional appeals from Georgian Dream seeking to outlaw them. The announcement also follows long-standing speculation that the ruling Georgian Dream party may call snap elections. While GD has yet to confirm such a prospect, with the next general elections scheduled for 2028, recently tabled election-related amendments have added fuel to expectations that the next parliamentary polls could be held earlier than planned. More to follow...