Blab Politics
UNM Chair Tina Bokuchava Misses Political Council Meeting Amid Urgent Party Congress Plans
On July 9, 2026, the United National Movement’s (UNM) political council gathered in Tbilisi for a two‑hour session, but its acting chair, Tinatin “Tina” Bokuchava, was absent. The meeting was held in advance of the party’s congress, set for August 5 at 15:00, and was a procedural step toward selecting a new leader after Bokuchava’s two‑year term ended on July 8.
Bokuchava confirmed that she had left the capital with her family two weeks before the council convened. "I had left the city with my family in advance and informed the party’s secretary‑general about this two weeks ago," she said. She added that the council organizers were aware of her absence and that she did not want to leave journalists’ questions unanswered. "I deemed it necessary to inform the public that I am out of town, that this trip was planned in advance, and that the secretary‑general of the party, as well as the organizers of the meeting, were aware of it," she explained.
The party’s leadership emphasized the urgency of convening the council and the congress. Acting chair of the political council, Khatia Dekanoidze, said the congress had to be organized quickly because the current leadership’s mandate had expired. "The congress had to be planned and held as swiftly as possible," Dekanoidze told reporters. She also noted that she was not a member of the political council and was not in Tbilisi when the meeting took place. "I believe the upcoming congress will be very important, and the idea of establishing a horizontal governing body to lead the party during the transition period is acceptable," she added.
Deputy secretary‑general Irakli Pavlenishvili echoed the sense of disappointment that many members felt. "We would have liked Ms. Tina to attend the meeting, but she was unable to make it," he said. He pointed out that the meeting date had been publicly announced, including by former party leader Mikheil Saakashvili on social media. "Many of our members travelled specifically from the regions for this date. Everyone was informed: some were able to come, others were not," Pavlenishvili said.
The UNM, founded in 2001 by Saakashvili, has been the main opposition party in Georgia since 2012. Bokuchava has served in Parliament since 2012 and became chair of the party in June 2024. With her term ending on July 8, the party now faces the need to elect a new chairperson at the upcoming congress. The organization is also under scrutiny by the Constitutional Court, which could potentially lead to its outlawing.
The council’s meeting, held without Bokuchava, was a procedural move toward the congress that will decide the party’s new leadership and may shape the UNM’s strategy amid the broader Georgian political crisis that began with the disputed October 2024 parliamentary election.
At present, the UNM has not released a detailed agenda for the congress. Its next steps will involve electing a new chairperson and establishing a governing body to guide the party through the transition period. Members who travelled from the regions have confirmed that they were prepared to attend the council meeting, and the party has indicated that the congress will be a decisive moment for its future direction.
The situation remains fluid, with the party’s leadership emphasizing the need for swift action to fill the leadership vacuum left by Bokuchava’s term. The August 5 congress will be the next key event for the UNM, and observers will watch closely to see how the party navigates its internal dynamics and external legal challenges.
Bokuchava confirmed that she had left the capital with her family two weeks before the council convened. "I had left the city with my family in advance and informed the party’s secretary‑general about this two weeks ago," she said. She added that the council organizers were aware of her absence and that she did not want to leave journalists’ questions unanswered. "I deemed it necessary to inform the public that I am out of town, that this trip was planned in advance, and that the secretary‑general of the party, as well as the organizers of the meeting, were aware of it," she explained.
The party’s leadership emphasized the urgency of convening the council and the congress. Acting chair of the political council, Khatia Dekanoidze, said the congress had to be organized quickly because the current leadership’s mandate had expired. "The congress had to be planned and held as swiftly as possible," Dekanoidze told reporters. She also noted that she was not a member of the political council and was not in Tbilisi when the meeting took place. "I believe the upcoming congress will be very important, and the idea of establishing a horizontal governing body to lead the party during the transition period is acceptable," she added.
Deputy secretary‑general Irakli Pavlenishvili echoed the sense of disappointment that many members felt. "We would have liked Ms. Tina to attend the meeting, but she was unable to make it," he said. He pointed out that the meeting date had been publicly announced, including by former party leader Mikheil Saakashvili on social media. "Many of our members travelled specifically from the regions for this date. Everyone was informed: some were able to come, others were not," Pavlenishvili said.
The UNM, founded in 2001 by Saakashvili, has been the main opposition party in Georgia since 2012. Bokuchava has served in Parliament since 2012 and became chair of the party in June 2024. With her term ending on July 8, the party now faces the need to elect a new chairperson at the upcoming congress. The organization is also under scrutiny by the Constitutional Court, which could potentially lead to its outlawing.
The council’s meeting, held without Bokuchava, was a procedural move toward the congress that will decide the party’s new leadership and may shape the UNM’s strategy amid the broader Georgian political crisis that began with the disputed October 2024 parliamentary election.
At present, the UNM has not released a detailed agenda for the congress. Its next steps will involve electing a new chairperson and establishing a governing body to guide the party through the transition period. Members who travelled from the regions have confirmed that they were prepared to attend the council meeting, and the party has indicated that the congress will be a decisive moment for its future direction.
The situation remains fluid, with the party’s leadership emphasizing the need for swift action to fill the leadership vacuum left by Bokuchava’s term. The August 5 congress will be the next key event for the UNM, and observers will watch closely to see how the party navigates its internal dynamics and external legal challenges.
