UNM head Vashadze leaves party, cites ‘presence of odious figures’ in UNM, attacks on diplomatic corps among top reasons
Grigol Vashadze was Georgia’s foreign minister under the United National Movement government. Photo: Grigol Vashadze’s press office.
Tweet 
Share
The head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Grigol Vashadze has stated that he has left the party and said that the presence of ‘odious figures’ in the party and attacks on the diplomatic corps and ‘other controversies’ pushed him to resign.
Vashadze said in his Facebook post released earlier today that he has done his best as the head of the party since January 2017 to make the party stronger.
However, there are issues which are absolutely unacceptable to me. I disagree with the recent tactics or the UNM leaders that have been chosen without consultations with party members, as well as the absence of a party strategy. There are odious figures in and around the party who are the part of the past and will never be able to regain the public truth. Attacking our strategic partners and heads of missions are very concerning,” Vashadze said.
Vashadze stated that attacking the diplomatic corps means attacking the countries the diplomats represent, while ‘the countries and diplomats have stood by Georgia since regaining the state independence and trying to defend our territorial integrity.’
Last month Vashadze called on other opposition parties to sit at a table with the ruling Georgian Dream party to resolve election-related complications.
Opposition parties and election blocs refuse to take up their mandates in parliamnet. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Other members of the UNM said that ‘the statement is Vashadze’s personal opinion which was not agreed upon with us,’ while the members of other opposition parties which took to the street following the October 31 parliamentary elections, said that Vashadze’s statement was ‘unexpected and confusing.’
Eight opposition parties and election blocs which were voted in on the October 31 parliamentary elections, with the UNM election bloc receiving far more seats than other opposition parties, say that the elections were fabricated and are demanding repeat elections.
Diplomatic corps are now mediating talks between the ruling party and the opposition to help the parties end the political crisis.
The ruling party says that no repeat elections will take place as the elections were held ‘in line with democratic standards.’
They say that the recent recognition of the mistake by ISFED NGO in its parallel vote count data is yet further evidence that no fabrication took place.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has asked the International Society For Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) to present the list of the eight per cent of election districts where, per the NGO, the ballots cast outnumber the signatures of registered voters. ISFED admitted to a mistake in its data of the parallel vote count on the weekend, while the data has been used so far by opposition parties ‘as evidence’ that the ‘elections were fabricated’.
Georgian opposition parties plan to hold rallies on central Tbilisi streets without speeches by opposition leaders during the visit of the US State Secretary Mike Pompeo on November 17-18.
The leader of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Grigol Vashadze has called on other opposition parties to sit at a table with the ruling Georgian Dream party to resolve election-related complications.
Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze says attacking the October 31 parliamentary election results is first of all in Russia’s interests and asks the public once again to think about it.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has annulled the party lists of five opposition parties earlier today per their request, meaning candidates on the lists would not be able to replace opposition MPs who have officially refused to take up their mandates in parliament.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition members have responded to the decision of the head of the opposition United National Movement Grigol Vashadze to leave the party earlier today.
Thirty-six MPs of the United National Movement-Strength in Unity election bloc have officially asked parliament to suspend their status. They claim that the elections were fabricated by the ruling Georgian Dream party and state that they will continue to fight from the street to force the government hold repeat elections. The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) annulled the party lists of five opposition parties earlier per their request yesterday, meaning candidates on the lists would not be able to replace opposition MPs who have officially refused to take up their mandates in parliament.
Nika Melia will be the next chair of the United National Movement (UNM) based on the results of the opposition party polls. The UNM launched an online poll on December 21 following Grigol Vashadze’s resignation.
Former head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Grigol Vashadze has joined Giorgi Vashadze’s Strategy Aghmashebeli ahead of the October 2 municipal elections.