“There is a clear fact that people cannot stop insulting the ‘United National Movement’ and Mikheil Saakashvili; they have not learned their lesson in this regard,” said Irakli Pavlenishvili, one of the leaders of the ‘United National Movement,’ speaking to journalists.

He expressed hope that the “political alliance” and the “United National Movement” would be able to overcome the current tensions.

“Of course, we are facing a situation where people cannot move past criticism of the ‘United National Movement’ and Mikheil Saakashvili. They have not learned their lesson and have not understood that you cannot become the main political opponent of Bidzina Ivanishvili simply by constantly insulting the main political opponent and Mikheil Saakashvili. You have to do it through actions, and this is very unfortunate. I hope this situation will improve,” Pavlenishvili said.

When asked whether the ‘United National Movement’ had been expelled from the “political alliance,” Pavlenishvili replied that they are currently still part of it.

“We are now, at this stage, still in it.

[Regarding certain individuals’ unethical statements about the ‘United National Movement’ and Saakashvili] I cannot be held responsible for those. As for being in the alliance in general, there was a very simple tactical reason for this. It is a space for cooperation among forces engaged in protest against the current government. At this stage, we remain in the alliance,” he said.

Regarding other issues, the politician also commented on the ruling party’s lawsuit filed with the Constitutional Court seeking the banning of political parties. According to Pavlenishvili, if parties are banned, it would mean that “democracy has died in the country.”

“It is clear that this force is inherently dictatorial, because according to their own calculations, they are effectively declaring that up to one million people do not have active voting rights, which is a clearly dictatorial step. This is a red line for any civilized country. Of course, we will continue our protest and resistance. This is the only way and recipe for defeating such a regime.

They have been talking about this promise for a long time, and at this stage I cannot say exactly what they plan, when they plan it, or whether they will do it at all. But the fact is that as long as elections in the country are effectively abolished and political repression continues, elections cannot really take place anyway, because all political leaders are either in detention or facing legal cases. Under such conditions, banning or not banning parties becomes largely symbolic. Ultimately, however, it would be a declaration that democracy in this country has died and no longer exists,” Pavlenishvili said.

He also spoke about the elections held in Armenia.

“Armenia had elections of the same importance as Georgia did in 2012, when voters had to choose either in favor or against modernization and democratization. In this case, Armenia, as one of the participants in the local protest said, did not take the step Georgia did, did not make that mistake, and voted for democratization,” Pavlenishvili said.