Opposition UNM Boycotts Runoffs

Parliamentary opposition party the United National Movement (UNM) has refused to participate in the runoffs of October 21 local elections.

The decision was made by the party’s political council on Monday, which means that the UNM mayoral candidates in Kutaisi and Martvili – Grigol Vashadze and Mamuka Danelia will not participate in the second round. 

One of the leaders of the party, Nika Melia says that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) conducted unfair and non-transparent elections and did its best to gain victory again.

“The GD managed to win through intimidating, bribing, blackmailing our citizens and on this background it is useless to participate in the run-offs,” Melia stressed.

The politician underlined that despite this decision, the UNM will not stop fighting against “injustice.”

By Thea Morrison

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