Ruling party head: "does not matter" whether opposition UNM is in Parliament

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said it "did not matter" whether the opposition United National Movement party would take part in Parliamentary work, following UNM Chair Levan Khabeishvili's announcement on Monday of the party's boycott of the legislative body. 

Khabeishvili announced the boycott and “permanent rallies” in response to Tbilisi City Court’s ruling that denied the imprisoned former President and UNM founder Mikheil Saakashvili release or postponement of his prison term on health grounds. 

“Ultimately, it is up to them [UNM]. They cannot make any contribution to [...] the country either by being in the [Parliament] hall nor outside it [anyway]", Kobakhidze said. 

[I]t does not matter to us where the United National Movement will be - whether it is outside the Parliament, in boycott, in the Parliament or elsewhere. We have our agenda and we will continue to act according to that agenda”, the GD official added.

In comments on the announced rallies, Kobakhidze also stressed authorities would not allow them to “disturb peace in the country”. 

He also pointed out "inconsistent" messaging by UNM on the boycott, noting the Monday announcement had been followed by the party "backing down" on the intention on Tuesday, and alleging the development was an outcome of "internal division" in UNM. 

He also added the ruling team was instead “interested in issues related to the country's development, economy, prices".