Aleko Elisashvili, independent member of the Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo), who won a majoritarian seat in one of Tbilisi’s single-mandate constituencies in 2014, has officially confirmed his plans to run in the Tbilisi Mayor’s elections.
 
“I decided to run in the Tbilisi Mayor’s elections independently. I decided to be independent, but … I will be dependent on the people till the end of my life,” Elisashvili said on July 11 at his outdoor presentation in Old Tbilisi, where he unveiled his plans to run in the October municipal elections.
 
In his remarks, Elisashvili focused on his experience in confronting the previous and the incumbent ruling parties, the United National Movement and the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia, respectively.
 
“I have an experience in defeating the government. Many people have forgotten that three years ago my supporters and I jointly defeated the Georgian Dream and the United National Movement. So, I know how to win a victory together with the people,” Elisashvili said.
 
He also spoke about his opponents and said that the political parties supporting the candidates share responsibility for the problems persisting in the capital. Elisashvili stressed that these problems were created “as a result of the nine-year and the five-year rules” of the United National Movement and the Georgian Dream, respectively.
 
Elisashvili also pledged to maintain political independence after the elections, as well as to keep being “an available” mayor for everyone. “I am not going to be accountable to the Sololaki palace [referring to former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili] or to send telegrams to Kiev [referring to former President Mikheil Saakashvvili, who is currently based in Ukraine]. I will be accountable only to you,” Elisashvili addressed his supporters.

Aleko Elisashvili, who chaired the presidential pardon commission from November 2013 to April 2014, previously served as a journalist for various TV channels and radio stations.
 
Three candidates have already announced their plans to run in the mayoral elections. Former Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze, nominated by the ruling party; former Rustavi 2 TV anchor Zaal Udumashvili, nominated by the United National Movement, and MP Elene Khoshtaria, nominated by the European Georgia, will also run in the municipal elections. 
 
Municipal elections will tentatively be held at the end of the third week of October, 2017.