UNM announces mayoral candidate

United National Movement rejected planned primaries in their party and proposed a united candidate for the upcoming Tbilisi mayoral elections. 

Party MP Giorgi Vashadze announced he had refused to run for Mayor in favor of his colleague, Nika Melia to represent the opposition.

 Vashadze was vague on the reasons why he decided not to run for mayor, but said the decision was made after consulting with the UNM team.

"Internal competition [within the party] made new leaders appear on the scene. My friend Nika Melia is one of these leaders. That’s why we have decided to remove my candidature from the race. The most important things is that we start a new stage of changes,” Vashadze stated.

Melia commented on Vashadze’s withdrawal and said he made this decision because of the "overall political situation” in Georgia. 

"He [Vashadze] is needed not only in Tbilisi but in Zugdidi, Kutaisi and other Georgian towns”, Melia stated.

Melia, 35, is the current head of Tbilisi Mtatsminda district local government. Before this, he was leader of the National Enforcement Agency of Georgia, from 2009 to 2010.

Melia is currently under investigation for abuse of power. The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office charged Melia with abuse of power in relation to a case involving Cartu bank. 

Melia, who at the time served as the Enforcement Agency chief, is suspected of taking action that almost led to the bankruptcy of Cartu bank, owned by Bidzina Ivanshvili - the founder of ruling party Georgian Dream coalition. 

Melia has denied all charges against him.

The Tbilisi Mayoral elections are scheduled for June 15, 2014. Melia’s main competitor is acting Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, David Narmania. Narmania represents the governing Georgian Dream coalition.