UNM opposition to support suspended MP Japaridze for Rustavi by-election

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party will support Badri Japaridze, the Lelo for Georgia party candidate, for the upcoming by-elections in the city of Rustavi, after the politician saw his MP status terminated by the Georgian parliament on Tuesday, UNM leader Khatia Dekanoidze announced on Wednesday.

Dekanoidze said she anticipated the race in the majoritarian vote with the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party candidate, Irakli Shatakishvili, would be “very difficult,” pointing to the importance of the opposition joining forces for the goal.

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Salome Samadashvili, who recently joined the Lelo party, said they would continue consultations with other opposition forces as well, to mobilise support for Japaridze’s candidacy.

Our task is to create a broad coalition around the candidacy of Badri Japaridze. Our door is open for consultations for all relevant partner parties,” Samadashvili announced. 

The nomination for Japaridze comes after the country’s legislative body voted this week to terminate the MP mandate for the politician due to his conviction of fraud in a case dating back to 2008. In case Japaridze wins the majoritarian vote in the Rustavi election, he could rejoin the legislative body on a new mandate.

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GD member and Deputy Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze said Japaridze had no chance of winning the race in Rustavi, adding nominating his candidacy was a “political manoeuvre to keep him on the surface of political events” following the suspension.

Irakli Zarkua, another member of the governing party, said “success is out of the question” for the opposition coalition in the by-election, also pointing out their decision as validating the electoral system.

This decision [UNM supporting Japaridze’s candidacy] underscored the fact that it turns out the opposition trusts the electoral system. It has been said the electoral system is unfair, although participating in elections is an important detail [for them],” Zarkua said. 

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Opposition MP from Citizens party Aleko Elisashvili said their party would not support Japaridze's candidacy in the elections, saying "we will have our candidate in Rustavi."

"It was non-collegial on their part [Lelo For Georgia] when they called a press conference, presented him and said that now, let's everyone support Badri Japaridze," said Elisashvili. 

Japaridze, a co-founder of TBC Bank and a current leader of Lelo, was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to seven years in prison by Tbilisi City Court on January 12, along with TBC co-founder and Lelo leader Mamuka Khazaradze. Their sentence for the charge was waived due to the statute of limitations.

The by-election in Rustavi is scheduled for April 2. The vote has been triggered by a vacant seat after former majoritarian MP Nino Latsabidze from the GD party was voted as Rustavi Mayor in local self-government elections in October last year.