Ex-UNM chair says he “won’t join” party’s potential board under “informal rule” of former officials

Nika Melia, the former chair of the United National Movement, who lost the race to incumbent Levan Khabeishvili earlier this year, on Monday claimed he would not get involved in the talks over the party’s new board, stressing the UNM was under the “informal influence” of David Kezerashvili, the former, wanted Defence Minister of Georgia, and Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior and Prime Minister under the UNM Government. 

 

In his social media post, Melia claimed under the influence of the figures, the party would be unable to defeat the Georgian Dream authorities in the forthcoming, 2024 Parliamentary race. 

 

“No independent board, adjusted to people’s interest, can be created, if in the current situation, the management, with its full composition, arranges itself in a row according to height and asks the party director Kezerashvili for ‘healthy advice”, Melia said. 

 

He further stressed “unity is strength with the right and faithful people. I have always been and will be in favor of such unity. And if unity is created for the sake of making money, for the list and the Parliamentary mandate, I have nothing to do with it.”

 

The domestic media claimed Nika Gvaramia, the recently pardoned head of the Mtavari TV channel and former official under the UNM, would lead the new board in the party in power between 2004-2012.