Ruling party Sec Gen denounces United National Movement, accusing party of betrayal, reckless governance

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said information revealed during the work of the parliamentary investigative commission was clearly demonstrating that the United National Movement's governance was “very severe” for the country and that they “committed treason”.

In his remarks over the work of the Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission examining alleged crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012, Kaladze noted that the purpose of the Commission's work was clear, and Georgian citizens deserved to know the truth about the 2008 August War.

“A parliamentary investigative commission has been established, summoning individuals for questioning. The public is probably following this process. I know that many are outraged by the information that has surfaced, revealing what was really happening. Their [UNM’s] governance was extremely harsh; they committed acts of betrayal. Due to their reckless policies, we lost territories, peaceful civilians and our heroic soldiers died, and of course, this is very grave”, the ruling party official said.

Kaladze further highlighted that the parliamentary commission’s investigation was crucial for informing the Georgian public about the truth behind the August War.

“Anyone who can assess and analyse the situation clearly understands the purpose of this commission. The answers provided so far reveal who these individuals were, how they governed the country, and what kind of situation they put our homeland and our people in”, he noted.

The official asserted that the UNM had no future in Georgian politics and was completely discredited.

“I don't know what new actions the United National Movement can take. They are already weakened and completely discredited. It’s up to them to decide in what form, how, and in what manner they will proceed. However, I repeat it once again: in Georgia, enemies of the country, foreign agents, and those who fight against Georgian statehood have no future. They will always be defeated in the political arena”, Kaladze concluded.