Acting UNM Chair: Abolishing party chair role is legally impossible and risks giving GD regime pretext to de-register UNM

“Even though the rule of law has ceased to exist in Georgia today and the legal system is being used as a tool of repression, the Law on Political Unions of Citizens remains in force. We must not hand the regime a formal pretext to initiate moves towards de-registering our party,” the Acting Chair of the United National Movement, Tina Bokuchava, has stated.

According to her, the law requires that any structure meet three core criteria: a designated head, a political council, and a so-called audit commission.

“I will continue to perform the vital duties of Chair until a new party congress elects a new leader. The position of Chair should be abolished entirely now. Formally and legally speaking, this cannot happen. The Law on Political Unions of Citizens exists. We must not give the regime a formal excuse to begin proceedings to strip the party of its registration,” Bokuchava noted.

When asked whether she interpreted Mikheil Saakashvili’s statement regarding the creation of a Council of Reformers as an effective abolition of the chairperson’s post, Tina Bokuchava replied: “Yes, the proposal was that no executive positions should remain except for the Chair of the Political Council, given that Levan Khabeishvili is currently in captivity.”

“Levan Khabeishvili has endured a great deal of injustice within the party, which neither he nor I have spoken about publicly, though the time for that may well come. It is only right that Levan Khabeishvili should remain as Chair of the Political Council. Naturally, if he holds that position, a political council must also exist to support it,” Tina Bokuchava stated.

Furthermore, Bokuchava stated that she does not see a place for herself within the proposed Council of Reformers.

“I am staying with the party, but it is unlikely that I will put myself forward as a candidate for the permanent chairmanship. If President Saakashvili wishes to restructure the party, I will continue to fight for a better future for my country as a rank-and-file member. I will fight to secure our nation’s entry into the European Union so that our children can have a bright future, free from persecution for free speech and independent thought. I also do not envisage myself joining the Council of Reformers. Since it will be a body operating alongside the party, it would be far more appropriate for it to be staffed by non-party figures,” Tina Bokuchava said.

The former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, recently published a statement on social media. Saakashvili has proposed that the United National Movement elect a temporary governing body and establish a Council of Reformers, which he would chair himself, with Nanuka Zhorzholiani serving as Executive Secretary.