UNM’s Baramidze: we plan to engage seriously in this political struggle, including its legal aspects

Giorgi Baramidze, one of the leaders of the opposition United National Movement, on Wednesday said his party would challenge the Government’s attempt to ban it both politically and legally, including through an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

“We are proud that this Russian regime once again stands against the United National Movement, it is a great honour for us”, Baramidze said in response to the Government’s move to ban the party.

Baramidze announced that the UNM intends to appeal the issue to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, stressing that his team views the process as both a legal and political battle.

“We are preparing everything for Strasbourg. We plan to engage very seriously in this political struggle, including its legal component”, he said, adding that the Government’s actions have only confirmed that the UNM has been “right all along”.

Baramidze noted the ruling party’s stance against the UNM reflected a broader confrontation between what he called a “Russian regime” and modern Georgian statehood, linked to former President Mikheil Saakashvili and his team.

He also commented on opposition unity, saying that some parties’ participation in what he described as a “Russian special operation” had prevented the formation of a four-party alliance previously encouraged by Saakashvili.

“The fact that this unity did not materialise made it easier for the regime to carry out the 2024 special operation, everyone can now see that”, Baramidze said.