Prepared by Messenger Staff
Zhorzholiani Says She Rejected Saakashvili?s Offer to Lead UNM
Journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani says she turned down an offer from former president Mikheil Saakashvili to become chair of the United National Movement (UNM), arguing that the party already has strong leadership.
Speaking to Formula TV, Zhorzholiani praised current UNM chair Tina Bokuchava, saying she is politically experienced and represents the party effectively on the international stage. She said the key question is not who leads the party, but how responsibilities are divided.
Zhorzholiani also pointed to the imprisonment of former UNM chair Levan Khabeishvili, saying his absence has been deeply felt within the party. According to her, the UNM needs someone who can effectively represent it domestically while Bokuchava continues her work abroad.
She said she sees her own role in helping reorganize and rebuild the party from within rather than taking over its leadership.
"Saakashvili did offer me the chairmanship, but we have already gone through that stage and I refused," Zhorzholiani said.
Her comments come after Saakashvili announced that Zhorzholiani and her team were joining the UNM as part of a broader effort to reform and renew the party. In a statement released from prison, Saakashvili said the UNM must transform into a "people's organization" rather than remain a narrow political grouping.
He argued that, with several party leaders imprisoned, the UNM requires fundamental renewal and greater public engagement. Saakashvili said Zhorzholiani has his full trust and mandate to help drive that process.
Gvaramia Accuses Georgian Dream of Using Opposition Figures as Bargaining Chips
Coalition for Change leader Nika Gvaramia accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of using opposition figures as political bargaining chips, following a court hearing in the so-called sabotage case.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Gvaramia claimed the government was following an "authoritarian practice" by detaining political opponents and using their cases to negotiate with Western partners.
"Georgian Dream is doing what it always does. It is collecting political prisoners, or hostages, and bargaining them with the West," Gvaramia said.
According to him, the timing of the hearing was aimed at sending a message to the European Union and the United States. He argued that the ruling party is seeking legitimacy not through new elections, but by encouraging opposition parties to return to parliament.
Gvaramia also predicted that the court would hand down different sentences depending on the charges faced by individual defendants.
The so-called sabotage case involves several prominent opposition figures, including former president Mikheil Saakashvili, Strategy Aghmashenebeli leader Giorgi Vashadze, Coalition for Change leaders Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia, Girchi - More Freedom leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria, and Lelo leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.
