The United National Movement opposition party chair. Nika Melia, has pledged cooperation with “anyone” who will stand by him in the fight against the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom he described as an “oligarch and an informal ruler of the country”. 

In his recent comments for the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Melia said that the part of the domestic opposition was not “sincere”in their attitudes towards Ivanishvili.  

"There are not only opposition politicians in the opposition field. I believe that the defeat of Bidzina Ivanishvili as an anti-state element is especially important after Russia invaded Ukraine. 

“When you are in the opposition, you look for many allies against the regime in this unequal struggle. I said, I say and I will say in the future, I will shake hands with all those people who will help me in the fight against Ivanishvili as an oligarch and will be our ally, but I am convinced that there are people who are not sincere in the process of finding help for the public", said Melia.

Melia noted that he would have no connections with the former UNM official David Kezerashvili, who is currently wanted, but owns businesses and TV channels in Georgia. 

"As for Kezerashvili, I shook hands with this person last year, after release from prison, I did not know him. I will have nothing to do with this person”, Melia said.