“The United National Movement is a criminal syndicate. Lasha Tsanava is a major donor to this party, apparently with funds obtained through criminal means,” stated MP Rati Ionatamishvili, a member of the parliamentary majority.

He emphasised that the public is no stranger to the criminal conduct of the UNM.

“The United National Movement is a criminal syndicate. Therefore, the criminal activities of its members, especially those of the Political Council, are not surprising to our citizens. What is more troubling is that this individual is a significant donor to the party, funds that, according to evidence, were likely acquired through criminal means.

I want to remind the public that the UNM and the radical opposition are essentially the same criminal syndicate, fueled by Kezerashvili’s illicit funds – funds that were plundered from the Georgian army and European pensioners. This is the true face of the United National Movement, the radical opposition, and those who today oppose and threaten our country,” Ionatamishvili asserted.

For context, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has detained Lasha Tsanava, a member of the United National Movement’s Political Council, on charges of fraudulently obtaining money from a foreign citizen in exchange for a residence permit.