Mikheil Saakashvili says the United National Movement is entering a transition period, with a party congress scheduled for the end of July to elect an interim governing body.

In a post on social media commenting on ongoing developments within the party, Saakashvili said preparations for internal party reforms are already underway.

"Today, July 8, the terms of office of all United National Movement officials expire under the party's charter. We must express our deepest gratitude to each of them for working under extremely difficult conditions. I especially want to thank our supporters in the regions - they have always been, and will always remain, the movement's main strength and indomitable spirit. We are a democratic movement, and we will uphold this principle. This time, however, the rotation of leadership will take place not in the usual way, but through an entirely new approach.

The movement is now entering a transition period. We are actively preparing for these internal reforms. At the same time, we must be very careful not to give the regime any additional formal pretext to abolish us. Therefore, a party congress will be held at the end of July to elect an interim governing body. Under the conditions of dictatorship, the only formal position we should preserve, as a sign of solidarity while he remains imprisoned, is that of our leader, Levan Khabeishvili," Saakashvili wrote.

As previously reported, in the same Facebook post Saakashvili proposed establishing a Council of Reformers, which he would chair, while appointing Nanuka Zhorzholiani as the Council's Executive Secretary.

"The Council of Reformers, which I will chair, should become a center of attraction and a public platform not only for party members, but also for professionals and patriots who, for various reasons, have so far stayed on the sidelines. Its main goal is to once again bring something new to Georgian politics - as our movement has always done - and to build a modern, youth-oriented, people-centered movement," Saakashvili wrote.