Georgian Dream MP: UNM ‘selling’ parliamentary mandates

Georgian Dream MP Tornike Pagava has accused the opposition United National Movement (UNM) of “selling” parliamentary mandates ahead of elections, citing recent comments by opposition politician Nika Gvaramia.

“We have just learned from Nika Gvaramia that, before elections, the United National Movement sells parliamentary mandates and has set up a political marketplace at the party office,” Pagava said during a parliamentary plenary session on Tuesday.

He described the alleged practice as an insult to Georgian society and, in particular, to the party’s remaining supporters.

“This once again confirms that the United National Movement trades on the will of its own voters and that, for them, the concepts of ‘their own voters’ and ‘the interests of Georgian society’ do not exist,” Pagava said.

Pagava also accused Gvaramia of threatening Vice Speaker Nino Tsilosani during a live broadcast.

“This is exactly what they say about these people: they have forgotten nothing and learned nothing new. They used violence when they were in government, they use violence now that they are in opposition, and they promise violence to Georgian society if they return to power,” Pagava said.

He added the UNM and other radical opposition forces would not be able to return to government.

“That is why they will never return to the government. That is why they will never take power, and that is why Georgian society has sent them into political oblivion,” Pagava said.

He described the developments within the opposition as a process of “self-exposure”, saying it would ultimately lead to what he called the “self-destruction” of the radical opposition.

“These developments are very beneficial for Georgian society, the Georgian state and Georgian democracy. I am confident that this process of self-exposure will lead to the self-destruction of the radical opposition,” Pagava said.