Opposition UNM says some members “splitting” party after candidate for chair calls separate rally location

The opposition United National Movement party on Tuesday said it was “regretful” that “some individuals” among its membership were using the topic of an upcoming rally for supporting the imprisoned former President Saakashvili to “cause a split”.

The statement followed Levan Khabeishvili, a candidate for the chairmanship of the party, calling a location for the protest - scheduled for Wednesday - that was different from the one officially selected by party staff.

In his call earlier on Tuesday, Khabeishvili said the gathering would be held outside the Government Administration in Tbilisi and the house of the former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's in the town of Shekvetili in Georgia’s west. 

This marked a contrast with UNM-announced locations - the Peace Bridge in the capital and locations in other major cities across the country.

“Today, Levan Khabeishvili, a member of the United National Movement party and one of the candidates for the chairmanship of the party, said that he is joining the solidarity rally at a location different from the one planned by the party”, the statement said.

We would like to emphasise that the solidarity rally was planned by the party on Saturday. The locations were selected in all major cities of Georgia. In this respect, the Chair of the Political Council provided information to the General Secretary of the party”, the party also pointed out.

In its comments on the development, UNM said the cause of “saving the life” of Saakashvili “should be uniting” the party instead of causing discord.