UNM opposition chair announces intra-party race for regional representatives

Levan Khabeishvili, the newly elected chair of the United National Movement – the largest opposition group in the country in office between 2004-2012 – on Wednesday announced intra-party elections in all 73 municipalities across the country for the heads of district and city organizations and members of the political council.

 

He said the party had opened 45 new offices in different municipalities and cities and noted the UNM was ready to organize and conduct the “promised” elections. 

 

Khabeishvili defeated Nika Melia as the party chair on January 30, after two-day elections. He said the party’s decisions would be communicated with the currently imprisoned former president and the UNM founder Mikheil Saakashvili. 

 

At the party’s congress held on February 6, the secretary of the political council of the party, Koba Nakopia, was replaced by Levan Bezhashvili. Petre Tsiskarishvili was re-elected as the secretary general of the UNM. 

 

Controversies inside the party still continue, with Melia opening a new office last week. He earlier accused former UNM officials David Kezerashvili and Vano Merabishvili of interfering in the UNM affairs and pushing Khabeishvili as the new chair of the party.