National Movement’s 2013 election campaign

Three detained at Bakradze campaign rally

By | October 13th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

(Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Three former political prisoners were detained in Batumi on Saturday during a campaign rally for Davit Bakradze, the presidential candidate for the National Movement party. Jimsher Kurtskhalidze, Jemal Buadze and Merab Gorgadze were taken away from […]

Saakashvili reelected UNM leader, presents new party banner

By | October 6th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , , |

The new National Movement party banner. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement in Georgia Saturday voted to keep Mikheil Saakashvili as party leader, and to change the party symbol to set it off from the national flag. UNM’s symbol, a five-cross flag, was made the national flag in January 2004 following […]

Campaign event in Zugdidi goes ahead without violence

By | September 15th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

National Movement presidential candidate Davit Bakradze addressing supporters in Zugdidi Sept. 11, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On September 11, the National Movement’s presidential candidate David Bakradze rallied supporters in Zugdidi while representatives of Defend Georgia gathered for an anti-UNM demonstration. Unlike the events of July 20, there was no violence against […]

Victims families don’t want Saakashvili to score points on them

By | August 29th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

Khatuna Kortava says her nephew was a victim of the Saakashvili regime. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Saakashvili’s National Movement is meeting resistance in its efforts to play the crime card in the election campaign. “No-one should be led by Saakashvili to try to score political points in my child’s name,” says Khatuna Kortava, aunt of Levan Kortava, […]

Saakashvili calls Ivanishvili a “zoo director” for releasing prisoners

By | August 29th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

President Mikheil Saakashvili (left) compared Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili to a zoo director for releasing prisoners. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili called Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili a “zoo director” and compared persons released in an amnesty to animals. Saakashvili said he usually gets a warm welcome in Batumi, and was surprised when there was a demonstration […]

Bakradze calls for national agreement to ensure stability

By | August 9th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

The National Movement’s candidate for president, Davit Bakradze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Movement presidential candidate Davit Bakradze has put forth a plan called the national agreement and asked the ruling Georgian Dream coalition to make changes to solve the country’s economic problems. Presenting his party’s initiative […]

Saakashvili’s party announces Bakradze as candidate for president

By | July 28th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

Three were detained during the protest outside the National Movement party conference in Tbilisi on Sunday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Bakradze, leader of the parliamentary opposition, has been announced as the National Movement’s official candidate for the upcoming presidential election. UNM’s sixth and final primary election was held on Saturday in Tbilisi. The final […]

Saakashvili’s party haunted by violent crowds

By | July 22nd, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch–President Saakashvili’s National Movement had a tough weekend with both party conferences interrupted by demonstrators. After being greeted by an angry hoe-wielding crowd in Zugdidi Saturday, the UNM gathered in Batumi Sunday, only to see protesters […]

Violent protest outside Saakashvili party’s conference

By | July 21st, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

Protesters want the National Movement party out of Samegrelo. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement’s fourth primary on Saturday took place against the backdrop of violent clashes with an angry hoe-wielding crowd who threw stones and bottles. For the fourth time, the UNM’s primary was won by former Speaker of Parliament […]

Bakradze wins primary in Kakheti

By | July 15th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

Davit Bakradze, one of the National Movement’s four candidates for president. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Bakradze, parliamentary leader of the National Movement, defended his frontrunner status Sunday with a third primary election win. 566 UNM delegates met in Telavi, a town in the eastern Kakheti region, to listen to a debate between Davit […]

Bakradze wins Saakashvili party’s second primary

By | July 8th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

Davit Bakradze, one of UNM’s four candidates for president. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Bakradze, leader of the parliamentary opposition, won the United National Movement’s second primary election for the upcoming presidential election in October. This latest party conference was held in Gori, a town closer to the capital. […]

Saakashvili’s party meets for first primary debate

By | July 1st, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , , , , |

From left to right: Zurab Japaridze, Shota Malashkhia, Davit Bakradze and Giorgi Baramidze. (UNM photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United National Movement Sunday kicked off its election campaign for the presidential election with a debate between the candidates. The event took place in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city and current seat of parliament, and will be […]

Saakashvili’s party names four presidential candidates

By | June 29th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

UNM spokesman Giorgi Vashadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement on Saturday named four candidates for the party’s primary election to select as candidate for the upcoming presidential election in October. Party spokesman Giorgi Vashadze presented the […]

Saakashvili’s party to start election campaign on June 30

By | June 28th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: , |

UNM spokesperson Giorgi Vashadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United National Movement has announced that its election campaign will be launched on June 30. UNM member Giorgi Vashadze said on Friday that the party will name all its candidates, who will then participate in a primary election to select […]

Saakashvili’s party to hold primary while gen secretary is in jail

By | June 18th, 2013|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: , |

Vano Merabishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party is still planning to hold primary elections to select a candidate for the presidential election, even though party secretary Vano Merabishvili is in detention. The names of the participants have not been revealed, […]

Saakashvili fired up crowd for anti-Russia themed rally

By | April 20th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

President Mikheil Saakashvili branded his opponents as traitors who are in league with the enemy, Russia. (DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgians in the United States rallied in New York Friday, in protest against the foreign policy of the Ivanishvili government, which has ruled Georgia for six months. The rally was the continuation of a mass gathering in the capital of their […]

Saakashvili says government is partly Russian-friendly

By | April 19th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

The Ivanishvili government is ‘partly friendly towards Russia’, President Mikheil Saakashvili claimed at a rally of his party, the National Movement, on Friday. (DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a speech Friday, President Mikheil Saakashvili accused the Georgian government of being ‘partly friendly towards Russia’. He was speaking at a rally of his party, the United National Movement, in Tbilisi in order to show off popular support […]

Saakashvili’s supporters gathering in Tbilisi for rally

By | April 19th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–The United National Movement (UNM) party of President Mikheil Saakashvili will be subject to intense scrutiny today as it launches this year’s election campaign outside the old parliament in Tbilisi. Two organizations have informed that they […]

Saakashvili allies rally in Tbilisi today

By | April 19th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Saakashvili’s National Movement party is holding a protest rally at the old parliament building in Tbilisi today. According to the Interior Ministry, several streets and squares will be blocked off in connection with the event. There will be no traffic […]

Saakashvili and Ivanishvili exchanging corruption accusations

By | April 18th, 2013|Categories: News|Tags: |

President Mikheil Saakashvili (right) during a visit by Russian journalist Ksenia Sokolova (left) in October, 2010. The president’s protection service, the SSPS, covered her stay with USD 6 000 and in addition paid for a USD 1 800 necklace for her. TBILISI, DFWatch–Two days before a planned rally by President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement, the ruling Georgian Dream coalition accuses it of embezzlement of state money. But the UNM claims the government is presenting […]

Saakashvili’s allies take leave from parliament

By | April 18th, 2013|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement party have taken the last two days off from work in parliament in order to prepare for a big rally on April 19. One of the party’s leaders, Davit Bakradze, on Wednesday explained that for two […]