UNM’s Pavlenishvili: Ongoing attacks against UNM make constructive cooperation within opposition alliance impossible

United National Movement (UNM) Deputy Secretary General Irakli Pavlenishvili said the party remains open to cooperation with other opposition groups, but argued that repeated attacks against the UNM have undermined the working environment within the opposition alliance.

Speaking to reporters, Pavlenishvili said he could not say at this stage how relations between the UNM and the alliance’s other members would develop.

“There has not been a constructive working environment within the alliance because of ongoing attacks against the United National Movement. We have always been willing to cooperate and remain ready to do so. However, when such an environment does not exist, there is little we can do at this stage,” he said.

Pavlenishvili stressed that this does not mean the party will rule out future communication with political forces opposing Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“We understand the challenges and the current political situation, but at this point I cannot say exactly how relations between the United National Movement and the other members of the alliance will continue,” he said.

According to Pavlenishvili, criticism of the UNM continues on a daily basis, including on social media, making it impossible to maintain what he described as a productive working relationship within the alliance.