United National Movement opposition ends parliamentary boycott
“One of the main axes of our parliamentary activity will be a public exposure of the regime [and] how the regime treats Mikheil Saakashvili using repressive institutions, and that is why we are going to set up a commission of inquiry,” Dekanoidze said. Photo: IPN.
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United National Movement, the largest opposition party in Georgia, has announced an end to their parliamentary boycott following seven months of refusal to participate in the activities of the state legislature, with the head of the parliamentary faction Khatia Dekanoidze revealing the decision on Monday.
Dekanoidze said there were “different opinions” within the party around the subject, adding the “decision was made by a majority of the vote.” She also said “one of the main axes” of the party’s parliamentary activities would be to set up a parliamentary commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged “inhumane treatment” of the imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili.
Saakashvili, who led UNM during their time in the government but has been since found guilty by the court on a range of charges and arrested following his clandestine return to Georgia ahead of the October 2021 elections, has claimed prison staff verbally and physically abused him during his transfer to Gldani prison hospital on November 8.
One of the main axes of our parliamentary activity will be a public exposure of the regime [and] how the regime treats Mikheil Saakashvili using repressive institutions, and that is why we are going to set up a commission of inquiry,” Dekanoidze said.
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze commented on the prospect of setting up the commission by saying the initiative would establish “there has been no ill-treatment against Saakashvili.” Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Ruling party MP Guram Macharashvili responded to the UNM’s decision to resume the parliamentary activities, saying “I do not think they will bring anything positive to the parliament,” calling the opposition party a “radical force.”
UNM decided to take up their parliamentary mandates in May 2021 after an almost six-month boycott following the parliamentary elections in 2020 and entered the state legislature on June 8. However, about a month following the Tbilisi Pride events on July 5 - where right-wing protesters attacked dozens of reporters gathered to report on events of the day - the party resumed its boycott.
The UNM took a majority of opposition seats (34 out of 60) in the 150-seat parliament in the 2020 parliamentary elections.