Tbilisi Mayor dismisses UNM opposition congress, accuses new political movement of serving foreign interests

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has dismissed the opposition United National Movement (UNM) as "a party of the past" ahead of its congress on Wednesday, while also accusing a newly launched political movement of serving foreign interests.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Kaladze said the UNM no longer represented a significant political force, arguing that its nine years in government demonstrated "how a government should not behave" and that it now served as an example of "how an opposition should not behave."

He also described the party as a "criminal group" and accused it of acting against Georgia's national interests during the 2008 war with Russia.

"The United National Movement is not interesting. It is a party of the past," Kaladze said.

The mayor also commented on the launch of a new political party by political analyst Viktor Kipiani, chairman of the analytical organisation GeoCase.

Kaladze alleged that Kipiani's political activity illustrated the existence of what he described as an "agent network" in Georgia acting on instructions from foreign actors.

He accused Kipiani of serving the interests of the "deep state" and said the ruling Georgian Dream government would continue pursuing policies based on what it considers Georgia's national interests.

Kaladze further said the era in which foreign representatives could influence Georgia's domestic politics had ended.

"Representatives of other countries will not make politics inside our country. Accept that," he said.

Responding to a question about whether Kipiani's new party posed a political challenge, Kaladze claimed that it was clear who financed various political groups and whose instructions they followed. He did not provide evidence to support those allegations.