According to Akaki Minashvili, a member of the United National Movement, the Georgian Dream has had to compromise on three issues related to reforms, but the release of political prisoners and early elections must be dealt.

The United National Movement (UNM) party refuses to sign the compromise paper drafted by the European Council President Charles Michel’s personal envoy Christian Danielsson.

“There could be no general agreement until there is a convergence of views on politically persecuted persons and early elections. That is the United National Movement’s stance. In this case, I speak on behalf of the United National Movement. Until we agree on the two main issues, no full agreement could not be reached. The release of political prisoners and early elections are the key issues. The briefing confirmed that the Georgian Dream had to compromise on three issues related to reforms due to work done by the European and American partners, but an agreement has to be reached on two main issues. These issues are the release of Nika Melia and Giorgi Rurua, as well as early elections, which are a necessary precondition for resolving the crisis in the country,” Akaki Minashvili said.

As for the 40 per cent backing for the self-government elections, Minashvili said it is wrong to link the early parliamentary elections to the local ones. It will cause more crisis.

“If we remember stance of two weeks ago, the Georgian Dream has been going radical regarding the issue of the early elections in some way. This situation has changed now, but linking the early elections to local votes is inherently wrong because these are polls of a different principle.

For example, one person could elect a party representative in a local election, but vote for a representative of another party in a central election. The specifics are different, and mixing this will further strain the situation and create more crisis in the country. We do not want this crisis to be created. So it has to be separate. The simplest way out of this crisis is through early elections. It is unacceptable in this case, “Akaki Minashvili said.

The ruling Georgian Dream party publicly signed the compromise solution prepared by the European Council President Charles Michel’s personal envoy Christian Danielsson on April 16.