Georgian diplomat launches new party

Georgia’s former ambassador to the UN has launched his own political party.

Running under the slogan ‘‘Our Georgia – Free Democrats’ -Irakly Alasania said the party aimed to offer a new strategy. He also called for an end to political unrest which has seen months of street protests.

‘‘I believe that more political forces will understand in Georgia that, if you want to contribute to the country’s stability, if you want to be a part of the building of our nation, it cannot be done only through demonstrating and only through the street protests,” said Alasania. “And I do believe that more and more opposition political parties and leaders are understanding that.’‘

The formation of the new party comes amid continuing calls for President Mikheil Saakashvili to step aside. Despite a series of violent clashes, authorities have so far resisted a full-scale crackdown on Georgia’s opposition. They accuse Saakashvili of dictatorship since 2003’s so-called ‘Rose Revolution’ and of taking Georgia into last summer’s disastrous war with Russia.

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tags: Georgia, Politics