UNM member urges ex-official Merabishvili to “abandon shadowy interference” in party, domestic politics
Nugzar Tsiklauri (L), a member of the United National Movement opposition party, on Wednesday urged former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili to openly state his political intentions.
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Nugzar Tsiklauri, a member of the United National Movement opposition party, on Wednesday accused Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior Minister from the party during its time in Government, of ongoing “shadowy interference” in developments in the UNM and domestic politics in general.
In his interview for Palitra media, the opposition politician alleged Merabishvili was interfering in the country’s politics “from the backstage”, without having made a public announcement of his political goals after leaving prison in 2020, following sentences on violations stemming back to his time in the former UNM Government.
Tsiklauri’s allegation against Merabishvili - one of the most influential figures of the former Government between 2004 and 2012 and a close ally of the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili - came following the release of a recording involving UNM’s incumbent Chair Nika Melia apparently making insulting statements to Saakashvili before his clandestine 2021 return to Georgia and his subsequent arrest.
Responding to the social media upload, several members of the UNM have openly accused Merabishvili of the release of the “fabricated’ audio recording in a bid to hamper Melia’s re-election as the party head in the upcoming intra-party race.
Merabishvili was arrested in 2013 and left prison in February 2020. In 2012 he served as the country's prime minister. video grab.
In his comments, Tsiklauri stressed “it is better for Merabishvili to leave the backstage and openly state his political intentions”, adding “behind-the-scenes management methods” could affect the party’s image as a “pro-Western” force.
He also described Levan Khabeishvili - a major competitor of Melia for the party Chair position - as an “unimportant figure” in the party who was “following their instructions”, in an apparent reference to Merabishvili and his allies.
In his first comments for the media in 2020, after serving a nearly seven-year sentence for a number of cases stemming back to his time in office, Merabishvili pledged to “put an end” to the current Georgian Dream Government, but has not officially affiliated himself to any political group in the country so far.
Arrested in May 2013, a year after the Georgian Dream Coalition founded by businessman and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili defeated the UNM Government in Parliamentary elections, Merabishvili faced several charges, ranging from the forceful dispersal of an opposition rally in 2011 to the 2006 murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani and the 2005 assault on businessman and opposition MP Valeri Gelashvili.
Bacho Dolidze, a member of the United National Movement - the largest opposition party in Georgia - on Tuesday said the former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili could be behind the recent release of illegal audio recording involving the party’s incumbent Chair Nika Melia.
Levan Khabeishvili, a member of the United National Movement opposition party, on Wednesday confirmed he would run for the chairmanship of the largest opposition group in Georgia after having initially dismissed reports on the intent.
Nika Melia, the head of the United National Movement opposition party on Wednesday said he was ready to re-run for the post “anytime” and slammed several of his party members for a “hasty” briefing earlier during the day that called for a leadership challenge.
Former Interior and Prime Minister of Georgia, one of the most influential figures of the United National Movement (UNM) government, Vano Merabishvili left prison earlier today after serving almost seven years, stating that he is returning to politics and ‘guarantees’ the end of the current Georgian Dream leadership. Standing at Matrosovi prison Merabishvili told the media that the opposition is united around key demands. However, his close friends are now in different opposition parties.
Giorgi Rurua, the founder and shareholder of Mtavari Arkhi TV, on Tuesday alleged possible ties between Vano Merabishvili, the country’s former Interior Minister in the United National Movement Government, and Russian special services, while claiming Merabishvili had blamed former President Mikheil Saakashvili for starting the 2008 war with Russia in private conversations with foreign partners.
Nika Melia, the Chair of the opposition United National Movement party, on Tuesday said “certain processes” taking place amid ongoing controversies in the party were “inspired, planned and organised from beginning to end” by Vano Merabishvili, the former UNM Government Interior Minister and David Kezerashvili, the former UNM Defence Minister and now private TV channel owner.
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Elections for the chairmanship of the opposition United National Movement party are underway for the second day by electronic voting.
Nika Melia, the incumbent Chair of United National Movement, the largest opposition party in Georgia, on Monday lost the race for the position to Levan Khabeishvili, in an election that followed intra-party controversies over the recent weeks.
MPs of the Lelo opposition party on Tuesday said their party may not cooperate with the United National Movement, the largest opposition group in the country, following the recent win of Levan Khabeishvili in elections for the new Chair of the latter.
MPs of the Lelo opposition party on Tuesday said their party may not cooperate with the United National Movement, the largest opposition group in the country, following the recent win of Levan Khabeishvili in elections for the new Chair of the latter.
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.
Khatia Dekanoidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement opposition party, on Friday cited its “unjustifiable” governance with an “old paradigm” as the basis for her decision to leave the party.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Tuesday responded to reports of former United National Movement party Chair Nika Melia opening a new office in Tbilisi by saying the party’s “breakup” was “expected” due to “tensions” between intra-party groups.
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.
Nika Melia, the former Chair of the United National Movement, the largest party in the domestic Georgian opposition, on Monday refused to become involved in a potential new board of the party and related talks, citing “informal influence” of David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister of Georgia, and Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior Minister under the UNM Government, over party affairs.
Tbilisi City Court on Thursday fined Nika Melia, Zviad Kuprava and Bacho Dolidze, members of the United National Movement opposition party, $730 each for an incident with law enforcement officers in September.
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.
Six members of the United National Movement opposition party in Tbilisi City Assembly on Friday called for termination of the position of the Chair of the group before next year’s “crucial” parliamentary elections and proposed establishment of a temporary governing body based on “parity”.
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