Georgian opposition rift deepens after Saakashvili post sparks backlash

Tensions have flared up once again within the Georgian opposition as a social media post by imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili triggered a sharp backlash from his political allies.

The latest dispute centers on Saakashvili’s public critique of the opposition's current strategy, which many parties have labeled a breach of internal agreements.

In his recent statement, Saakashvili took aim at the opposition's tactics, expressing dissatisfaction with their effectiveness. This move was met with immediate resistance from other members of the opposition alliance, who accuse the former president of undermining unity and violating the principles of their cooperation.

Notably, the United National Movement has refused to sign a joint statement issued by other alliance members regarding the matter.

The UNM has downplayed the severity of the post, characterising it as constructive advice rather than an attack. Speaking with journalists, UNM member Irakli Palavandishvili defended the former president’s position, suggesting that the reaction from partners was a misunderstanding of Saakashvili’s intent.

“It was simply a statement of historical fact; he was talking about the past. It was not confrontational toward anyone and was, in fact, recommendatory in nature”, Palavandishvili said.