UNM’s Tsitlidze fields questions on party Chair’s absence from UNM reform launch

“I have no information as to why Tina Bokuchava was not present, though she was certainly aware of the event. We did not issue personal invitations, but the details were public knowledge, and anyone was welcome to attend,” United National Movement (UNM) member Ani Tsitlidze has stated.

Tsitlidze made the remarks when questioned by journalists regarding why the UNM Chair, Tina Bokuchava, did not attend the presentation of the party’s new digital reform strategy.

“At this moment, I am not standing as a candidate in any election. Irakli Pavlenishvili, Gia Baramidze, Levan Sanikidze, and I delivered the presentation. This is a party development strategy that has been formally adopted and approved by the Political Council. In fact, the Political Council has been working on this blueprint for about a year, if not longer. It was initially approved roughly six months ago, after which specific working groups fleshed out the details, and the Political Council has since reaffirmed its confidence in it.

Therefore, this is not the vision of a single individual; it is a roadmap for the party’s future, backed and endorsed by the Political Council, the Secretariat, and the wider membership. I don’t know why Tina Bokuchava wasn’t here; I really cannot tell you, as I don’t have that information.

However, she was obviously aware of the event. Beyond that, I cannot comment. We did not send out personal reminders, but the event was publicised, and anyone could have turned up,” Tsitlidze clarified.

When pressed further on whether the party chair needs to attend an event of such significance, given that it concerns a major overhaul of the party, Tsitlidze responded bluntly:
“To me, the title of ‘Chair’ is not important at all. What matters to me is that everyone should be showing up, whether a party leader or a rank-and-file member.”