Georgian Dream official names UNM secret partnerships

The executive secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party says a fund established by famous Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze that unites experts, analysts and ex-politicians, is a "satellite” of United National Movement (UNM). 

GDDG official Irakli Kobakhidze said one example of cooperation between Georgia’s Development Fund and UNM was naming a joint majoritarian candidate for the May 22 by- elections in eastern Ozurgeti region. 

"UNM and Georgia’s Development Fund are planning the candidate’s pre-election campaign together to ensure the nominee wins the race,” Kobakhidze alleged. 

However he claimed their proposed candidate "had no chance” in Ozurgeti as the GDDG had the largest number of voters in the area. 

Kobakhidze also said opposition parties Free Democrats and the Labour Party were also "closely cooperating” with UNM, who ran the country for nine years until it was defeated by the Georgian Dream (GD) coalition in the 2012 Parliamentary race. 

Burchuladze, one of Georgia’s most famous opera singers and philanthropists, has not responded to the allegations. 

He founded Georgia’s Development Fund in November 2015. At the time he said the aim of the fund was to help locals, as he believed the current Government failed to resolve the problems of its citizens. 

Burchuladze and Fund members did not exclude the fact the fund might transform into a political party prior to this year Parliamentary Elections in October.

Already the Fund has established branches in several towns of Georgia and is actively meeting with people in different regions.