UNM: opposition alliance has become 'non-functional'

A senior official from Georgia's opposition United National Movement (UNM) on Thursday said the political alliance it belongs to has become "completely non-functional" and that remaining in it carries little practical significance.

Speaking to reporters, Irakli Pavlenishvili, deputy secretary general of the UNM, said the alliance no longer provides a productive environment.

"There is an absolutely non-functional environment within this alliance, so whether we remain in it or not makes little difference," he said.

Commenting on criticism directed at the UNM, Pavlenishvili said such attacks were neither new nor unexpected.

"These attacks have been ongoing for a long time, so there is nothing surprising about them. These individuals are constantly focused on criticising the United National Movement and Mikheil Saakashvili. That is their approach - they direct insulting attacks at the UNM and its leaders," he said.

Pavlenishvili argued that the criticism reflected the party's political relevance.

"It indicates that we are the political force that provokes such reactions," he said.

He also questioned why some political figures had changed their assessment of the UNM after leaving government.

"It is very interesting why, before 2012, when they were in government, they viewed us differently, whereas now, being in opposition, they have adopted completely different positions," he said.