“The party should not be governed by my letters or dictated by a narrow group’s decisions. We have always been innovators in Georgia, and I propose a new approach to decision-making—online balloting,” jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili stated on Facebook.

Saakashvili advocates for transforming the United National Movement (UNM) from a traditional political party into a resistance movement aimed at defeating dictatorship. He asserts that since 2012, Georgia has been subjected to a collaborative regime that has morphed into a Russian dictatorship.

“The Russians brought Ivanishvili to remove me, to hinder Georgia’s successful development, re-enslave the Georgian people, and discredit our nation as a model for the region and the world. The Russian regime has employed hybrid methods to achieve these aims.

It is undeniable that I remain their primary target, as does the United National Movement, which is responsible for the creation of the modern Georgian state and its notable achievements. Their intention is to ban the party and destroy me.

Now, as elections are suspended and repression intensifies, the role of political parties changes drastically. We must adapt our party’s function and methods of resistance. The UNM should transform into a movement that fights against dictatorship and restores democracy. We must remember that the dictatorship aims to eliminate our party from the political landscape, and we cannot allow that to happen.

Our main goal, as always, should be to unify the entire political spectrum, but we must also reform the UNM’s decision-making processes. People need to feel that this is their party, their political home, where they have a voice.

The party should not be ruled by my directives or through a select few’s decisions. As innovators, I propose a new method of decision-making—online balloting on key issues. Decisions will be made based on the principle of parity, following consultations with our voters, party leadership, and myself,” he emphasized.

Saakashvili believes such decisions should encompass forms of protest, participation or non-participation in elections, election lists, and alliances with other parties. This system will institutionalize the party’s supporters.

He added that supporters from around the world would register and pay a symbolic fee to receive information from the party and share their ideas.

“A group of young, idealistic fighters has recently joined the party. They will strengthen both party leadership and Georgia’s future government. Simultaneously, the UNM is supported by seasoned warriors who played a crucial role during the most successful nine years in Georgia’s history, despite suffering under the occupation regime. Their continued presence in the party speaks to their heroism. These individuals deserve immense respect; their experience is invaluable for rescuing Georgia once more. The very existence of Georgia is at stake; now is not the time to surrender, but to attack,” Saakashvili declared.

In his letter, the ex-president tasked Tina Bokuchava, Levan Khabeishvili, Giorgi Baramidze, Irakli Pavlenishvili, and Levan Sanikidze with addressing organizational issues and developing a new decision-making model. He also requested that final decisions be made through consultations with party activists and establish a permanent “functional office,” where members can meet and engage with one another.