UNM opposition members continue to leave party to join new platform

Members of the United National Movement, the largest opposition party in Georgia, continued to leave the group this week amid internal controversies, expressing their commitment to join a new platform initiated by the party’s former Chair Nika Melia.

Bacho Dolidze, a leading figure within UNM, confirmed his departure on Monday, citing the new opposition platform's role “at the forefront of the political process” leading up to next year's parliamentary elections. 

He said he had left the party "because it is time for a new movement", emphasising an "absolutely new vision" for the public, grounded in a “comprehensive understanding of the past” Dolidze also clarified there were “no intentions” to form an election bloc with existing political groups for the forthcoming race. 

On Sunday, seven out of 14 UNM members in the Kutaisi City Assembly in western Georgia also announced their departure from the party. They criticised the current Chair, Levan Khabeishvili, and wider party management for "sidelining experienced and loyal members", and accused them of adopting a "conformist and pseudo-positional stance".

Like Melia, they also pointed to an alleged informal governance within the party.

Melia, who lost the chairmanship race to Khabeishvili in January, referred to the current Chair as a "puppet" controlled by former UNM officials including David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister, and Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior Minister.

In his official departure from the party last week, preceded by the exit of a number of members from the party’s representations across the country over the past several weeks, Melia revealed plans to launch a new political platform.