Part of UNM members against Melia’s “expulsion” from party

Giorgi Baramidze and Murtaz Zodelava, the members of the United National Movement, on Monday said they were against the expulsion of Nika Melia, the party’s former chair, after incumbent chairperson Levan Khabeishvili on Monday signed a paper on his dismissal during a live broadcast of the Formula TV channel. 

 

Baramidze said he disapproved Melia’s negative comments over the party and its alleged “informal rule” by former UNM officials Vano Merabishvili and David Kezerashvili, but said he was “strongly against” his dismissal and was ready to quit the post of the party’s political secretary if Melia expelled. 

 

Zodelava, who earlier claimed the party’s donors had decided to take the “UNM leadership in their hands”, slammed Khabeishvili for his latest move. 

 

Controversies inside the party started after the clandestine return and arrest of Mikheil Saakashvili, the currently imprisoned former President, in October 2021, with Khabeishvili accusing Melia, the then chairperson, of taking “no steps” for his release. 

 

Khabeishvili defeated Melia in the January race, with the latter labelling the new chairperson as a “puppet” in the hands of former officials.