Public demands unified opposition to end Russian influence, UNM official

Irakli Pavlenishvili, deputy secretary of the United National Movement (UNM), has claimed that public demand called for a united opposition to “remove” former Prime Minister and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and “free Georgia from Russian influence.”

Pavlenishvili said the process would actively involve civil society groups alongside political parties.

“We will have active engagement with civic groups. UNM has a broad network of people involved in protests, and it was these people who united - this was the demand of the protest movement. We do not intend to limit ourselves to political groups alone. UNM will, of course, participate in this process and this unity,” Pavlenishvili said.