UNM city assembly members in Kutaisi leave party

Members of the United National Movement in Kutaisi city assembly in western Georgia – the largest opposition party in the country in office between 2004-2012, have departed the group on Monday. 

 

Seven out of the twelve deputies in the body have stepped away from the party, citing informal governance. 

 

The local organization asserted the majority of its members, specifically seven out of ten at the headquarters, have also chosen to leave.

 

“When you oppose the informal governance in the country [reportedly referring to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream power], you should at least distance yourself from it in a party”, the former members claimed. 

 

Despite leaving the party, they city assembly members do not intend to relinquish their mandates and have plans to collaborate with Nika Melia, the former chair of the UNM who has recently left the party and is expected to found a new opposition platform. 

 

Melia claims former UNM officials, wanted former defence minister David Kezerashvili and former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili were running the party from the backstage.