Khatia Dekanoidze, the chairman of the National Movement parliamentary faction said on Thursday that she was not considering her candidacy for the new head of the largest opposition group in the country, following the recent controversies inside the party over the election of its new leadership. 

She said that the health condition of currently imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili was her “initial concern” at this stage, rather than disputes over the party chairmanship. 

“Elections are a democratic process, no one was against the elections. I do not consider my candidacy and I will not consider it for the post, I actually believe that I have a very important function in the party and the parliament," said Dekanoidze.

Part of the UNM members on Wednesday raised the issue of the party leadership elections at a briefing. 

Nika Melia, the incumbent chair of the party, has expressed readiness to hold internal party elections and participate in them.

The head of the ruling Georgia Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, has claimed that Davit Kezerashvili, a currently wanted former defense minister of Georgia, wanted Petre Tsiskarishvili, the UNM member, to take the post.

He also said that Kezerashvili funded both certain entities within the UNM and other opposition groups. 

Tsiskarishvili claimed he had no plans to run for the post.