Ex-Pres. Saakashvili says he will take over UNM Political Council chairmanship

Mikheil Saakashvili, the currently imprisoned third President of Georgia, on Monday claimed he would take over the chairmanship of the Political Council of the United National Movement – the largest opposition group in the country founded by him and in power between  2004-2012. 

 

Addressing a trial hearing involving him via a video link from Tbilisi Vivamedi civilian clinic, the former official, who currently holds only Ukrainian citizenship, claimed he would “reintegrate the party” and return the “experienced politicians” who had fled it over the years. 

 

He also claimed the Georgian Dream ruling power had plans to nominate Thea Tsulukiani, the current Culture Minister, as the next President, and Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the GD and Tbilisi Mayor, for Prime Minister, ahead of the next year’s Parliamentary and Presidential race. 

 

In his remarks, Saakashvili accused the current authorities of handing over the list of the country’s intelligence officers to Russia. 

 

Saakashvili, who chaired the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council, was arrested on his clandestine return to Georgia in 2021, ahead of domestic municipal elections, and is now serving his six-year-term for abuse of power while in office. Three other cases involving him are still pending. 

 

The GD authorities claimed Saakashvili aimed at sparking unrest in the country to retake office and later “drag” Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.