UNM Leader Urges Opposition to Immediately Move the Process to Negotiating Table

Grigol Vashadze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, has released a statement regarding the ongoing political processes and street rallies in the country, calling on all opposition parties to immediately move the process to the negotiating table. 

"Let's replace the street with a tribune of legislators of all levels," was the main message of his address. 

He said that neither the government nor the opposition, despite the well-founded arguments and protests of the opposition, has the right to tolerate the development of unruly processes.

The online edition New Post first published Vashadze's statement. The "National Movement" has confirmed that his statement is authentic, however, they refrain from talking about additional details.

"Grigol Vashadze's statement was not a position agreed with the party leaders and the political council," Khatia Dekanoidze, one of the UNM leaders, said on Facebook.

"It is unfortunate that the party chairman is making such a statement without discussion. We are not against negotiations, only with terms shared by the entire opposition spectrum," she noted. 

Initially, the National Movement was among the parties that did not recognize the results of the October 31 parliamentary elections and called on the people to protest. They said that they would not enter the parliament and demanded both early parliamentary elections and a change in the composition of the Central Election Administration.

Later, Grigol Vashadze released an explanation regarding his statement.

"I will further explain:

Citizens' protests must continue; A political component must be added to this protest immediately - through the mediation of strategic allies in the form of negotiations on the implementation of the principles of fair elections; Until/if the negotiations are successful, we will neither participate in the second round nor enter the Parliament.

"Once and for all, we should all work hard so that in the future street protests do not replace the normal process due to election fraud." 

Rallies have been held since the announcement of the October 31 Parliamentary Election results in Georgia, declaring the ruling party Georgian Dream as the winner. Opposition members and supporters claim that the election was rigged and demand the re-appointment of the elections and the resignation of the CEC chairperson Tamar Zhvania. 

By Ana Dumbadze