Kobakhidze: Georgia will not delay elections like Ukraine

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has firmly rejected any possibility of delaying the country’s local elections, drawing a comparison to Ukraine, where elections have been postponed despite the expiration of officials’ mandates.

Speaking to journalists in the United Arab Emirates, Kobakhidze responded to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, urging the Georgian government to consider postponing the elections later this year. He stressed that Georgia will not follow Ukraine’s example and that all electoral processes must proceed according to the country’s constitutional framework.

“This reminds us of Ukrainization—in Ukraine, elections are not being held, even though mandates have already expired. We will not allow this in Georgia. Everyone must respect the Constitution and the law. Local government bodies, including mayors and municipal councils, are elected for four years, and naturally, this term must be renewed on time,” Kobakhidze stated.