UNM opposition dismisses talk of internal divisions, denies setting October 4 as ‘date for revolution’

Giorgi Baramidze, the leader of the United National Movement opposition, on Thursday dismissed claims that his party had set a specific date for a “peaceful revolution,” rejecting speculation of internal discord within the party.

Responding to media reports and political commentary suggesting from ruling authorities that party leaders Tina Bokuchava and Levan Khabeishvili had confirmed 4 October as the planned date for mass mobilisation or a revolution, he insisted that neither had made such claims.

“Neither Tina Bokuchava nor Levan Khabeishvili ever said that a peaceful revolution will happen on 4 October, no matter what,” Baramidze said in a statement. “Many - including Russian propaganda - tried to present this as confusion or division within the party, but this is false.”

Baramidze accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of manipulating narratives to discredit legitimate protest, saying the government was attempting to equate peaceful civic mobilisation with violent overthrow. “A peaceful revolution is fully within the framework of Georgia’s Constitution - it is the people’s right,” he said.

He added that it was impossible to predict exactly when such a movement might succeed: “It could happen before, on, or after 4 October. No one can say for certain.”

Baramidze referred to the current government as a “rotten criminal regime,” accusing it of isolating Georgia from the West and sabotaging the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He also reiterated support for upcoming demonstrations, including a protest planned for 2 August in Batumi, which will coincide with commemorations for Georgian war heroes.

“Our struggle will continue,” he said. “We will protest against Russia’s grip on Georgia -  a grip that didn’t succeed militarily in 2008, but which achieved its goals through psychological and informational warfare in 2012.”

Baramidze also reaffirmed UNM’s support for other opposition movements, including that of Paata Burchuladze, saying that no group involved had committed to a specific date for government change, contrary to what he described as narratives pushed by pro-government and pro-Russian media.

“This talk of internal division is a distraction from the real fight - the fight against a regime that has betrayed the country,” he concluded.