Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, says he is planning radical changes in the United National Movement (UNM), adding that as part of the party’s reform process, journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani and her team will join the party.

According to Saakashvili, Nanuka Zhorzholiani has never betrayed an idea.

“I have not only changed my hairstyle, but I am also planning radical changes in the United National Movement.

The UNM, which created the institutions of the Georgian state, is a party of thousands of passionate, intelligent, patriotic Georgians - an organization to which many people have devoted important parts of their lives. These loyal idealists deserve special care and recognition of their contribution.

The main goal of party renewal is to restore its original deeply popular character, and to show that we are a union of all Georgians (both ethnic and all other citizens of Georgia), not a narrow elite group.

Given that I, Levan and other leaders are in prison, the party needs revitalization, fundamental renewal and activation. For this purpose, we have jointly agreed to bring into the party reform process the brilliant Nanuka Zhorzholiani and her excellent team. Personally, I have known Nanuka for 25 years. She has never betrayed an idea. She has always stood out for her public engagement, her fight for truth, extreme courage and innovativeness. She has great authority inside and outside the country and, importantly, very correct ideas for fundamental renewal.

Nanuka has my full trust and mandate, together with our many members and party chairwoman Tika Bokuchava, to implement these changes.

The party must open up to new people. Alongside respecting experienced members, we must introduce flexibility, decentralization, and urgently adopt new technologies, as well as create a modern fundraising system.

We will need your help in all of this. I want to emphasize once again that we value loyalty and idealism. We are servants of truth!

Now, in the context of Ukraine’s victories, Russia’s defeats in Hungary and Armenia, and increased engagement from Europe and the United States, we must abandon the mentality of defeat and move onto a wave of victory.

In the next truly free elections, the Georgian people and a renewed United National Movement will win,” Saakashvili wrote.