Opposition MP: expulsion of UNM party members from party “big problem”

Khatia Dekanoidze, an opposition MP who earlier this year left the opposition United National Movement party, on Friday commented on an ongoing intra-party controversy between different camps of the faction by saying the prospect of expulsion of members was a “big problem” for the group and “echoed” Communist Party practices from the past.

Dekanoidze was making the comment in reference to the question of whether Nika Melia, the party’s former Chair, would sign a new manifesto of the party.

I left this party because of specific problems that have not gone anywhere [since]. In the light of those problems, I never imagined that there would be unity [within the group]”, she said. 

Dekanoidze also claimed the party would only be “saved from splitting” if the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, the UNM founder, abolished the position of its Chair.

The politician’s comment came after Levan Bezhashvili, the Chair of the Political Council of the UNM, on Thursday said if Melia did not sign the manifesto, he could “not be a member” of the party, and accused him of being the “main actor” of an alleged “campaign” against UNM.

Bacho Dolidze, a UNM member who is in Melia’s camp, said the party’s manifesto served to “expel specific persons” from the faction.