UNM opposition leader accuses colleagues of “flattering” with ruling power

Levan Khabeishvili, the head of the United National Movement, the largest opposition group in the Parliament, on Tuesday accused Khatuna Samnidze, the head of the Republican party, and Khatia Dekanoidze, a former leader of the UNM, of “flattering” with the ruling power, after MPs claimed last week unidentified opposition groups had been engaged in undermining the country’s EU candidacy. 

In his press comments, Khabeishvili alleged the claims by his colleagues did not seem “accidental” and was similar to a “planned continuation” of the alleged propaganda by the ruling Georgian Dream party. 

“I sincerely worry about these people,” said Khabeishvili, and rejected the allegations on his party’s alleged efforts to hamper the country’s obtaining of the EU candidacy in December as “delusion”. 

Samnidze and Dekanoidze claimed unidentified opposition groups were taking actions to assure the EU representatives to grant the country the status only after the 2024 Parliamentary elections. 

The GD official said the UNM, the Lelo opposition party and Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the opposition-minded Mntavari channel and a former UNM official, were allegedly engaged in the “anti-state” campaign.