Former Chair of UNM opposition denounces “informal rule” in party

Nika Melia, the former Chair of the opposition United National Movement party, on Thursday denounced “informal rule” in the party by David Kezerashvili, Vano Merabishvili and Zurab Adeishvili, three former officials in the UNM Government.

Melia said the three former ministers were presiding over a “clan rule” of the party and called his loss in Chair elections in January a “coup”. The former Chair lost the race for the position to Levan Khabeishvili, in an election that followed intra-party controversies and saw Melia and his supporters allege links between the former officials and the election winner.

The party has lost its respectability, perspective and growth potential. The party is becoming similar to the [ruling] Georgian Dream [party] model -  a clan rule, rule by capital, rule by financial means. This is not what voters of UNM fought and are fighting for.

“[The term] ‘[i]nformal rule’ seems to sound academic - another term is ‘clan rule’, which [is a model] I despise”, Melia said. 

The party member claimed the January elections were a “planned special operation” used against him, noting he still “accepted the challenge” and “found the strength in me to wish the winner to run the party with truth and dignity”.

However, he alleged the election process to have been a “planned” effort involving Khabeishvili being “ordered” by Merabishvili and Kezerashvili to “play the role of a notary” in dismissing concerns of “half the party” after the elections.

Zurab Adeishvili [UNM Justice Minister] was involved in the election process as much as Merabishvili [UNM Interior Minister], Kezerashvili [UNM Defence Minister], and today, if there is anyone in this party who fully owns the levers of the party management, it is [them]”, Melia concluded.