Opposition to nominate former leader of European Georgia Ugulava for Poti mayor

The United National Movement (UNM), European Georgia, Girchi-More Freedom and Droa opposition parties have plans to nominate former leader of European Georgia, ex-Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava for Poti mayor in western Georgia in the October 2 municipal elections, UNM Poti organisation head Darejan Tskhvitaria has told Netgazeti. Ugulava, who left European Georgia shortly after the 2020 parliamentary elections due to controversies with the party leader Giga Bokeria, has not yet confirmed the information. However, Tskhvitaria says that Ugulava will be officially nominated on August 21 and he will run in the elections with the number of UNM – five. It has been reported earlier that the UNM MP Tina Bokuchava would run for Poti mayor.

Tskhvitaria stated that Bokuchava’s candidacy was discussed. However, Ugulava was the final choice. “In Poti more opposition parties will nominate Ugulava. Strategy Agmashenebeli and Lelo would also stand by other parties,” Tskhvitaria said.

Ugulava served as Tbilisi mayor between 2005 and 2013. He was detained on embezzlement charges back in 2014, after the Georgian Dream coalition defeated the nine-year-rule of the UNM in the 2012 parliamentary race. He was released in 2017 and became a secretary general of European Georgia. In 2020 he was sentenced again to three years and two months in prison for the embezzlement of 48 million GEL from the Tbilisi Municipal Development Fund while in office.

However, he was pardoned by President Salome Zurabishvili soon due to the row on the election bill.

Opposition parties stated then that they would not vote for electoral changes if Ugulava and another opposition leader Irakli Okruashvili would not be released.