UNM opposition Chair in Parliament announces resignation

Khatia Dekanoidze, the Chair of the United National Movement opposition party in the Parliament, on Tuesday announced her resignation from the post, in a development that follows the election of Levan Khabeishvili in the position of the overall Chair of the party.

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The former UNM Government law enforcement official, who also served in public positions in Ukraine between 2015-2016, Dekanoidze said she would ask the Parliament Speaker to approve her resignation.

Along with Dekanoidze, who supported incumbent UNM Chair Nika Melia in the voting held last week, other members of the party have also announced their decisions to quit current positions while staying in the party. 

Akaki Minashvili, the Political Secretary of the UNM, Koba Nakopia, the Chair of the party Political Council, Giorgi Pataraia, the Head of the party press office and its Public Relations Secretary, Bacho Dolidze, the Organisation Secretary of the UNM and Ana Gogoladze, the Secretary of the Strategic Development, said on Monday they would leave the positions. 

In response to the resignations, Khabeishvili said on Tuesday he was “surprised” by the actions of his “friends” and urged them to “stand together” for ensuring the release of Mikheil Saakashvili, the country’s imprisoned former President and UNM founder, as well as the removal of the current Government.