Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

The Georgian Dream coalition led by Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has expelled one of its members and issued warnings to two of its other members following an incident in Zugdidi during which the crowd reportedly attacked the activists of President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement.

According to the Georgian Dream political council's statement released on July 30, the party condemns the incident that occurred on July 20 during the primaries of the United National Movement in Zugdidi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia.

The statement said the party believes that any violent or aggressive actions are unacceptable in political processes.

"Though Georgian Dream was not involved as a political subject in the organization of the protest, the participation of separate members of the party in the incident was revealed. The political council of the Georgian Dream party has made a decision with regard to the following persons: Gayoz Moniava received a written warning, Lasha Gogia received a warning, and Zaal Todua was excluded from the party," the statement reads.

Earlier, UNM accused Georgian Dream of organizing riots in connection with the incident which occurred during the internal party elections of the UNM in Zugdidi.

Georgian Dream activists reportedly threw stones and water bottles at the UNM members who arrived in the city in connection with the primaries being conducted to determine the presidential candidate to stand in the upcoming elections. As a result of the incident 12 people were detained on charges of disorderly conduct.

The 2013 presidential election in Georgia is scheduled for October. This will be the 6th presidential election after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The last one, held on January 5, 2008, resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili for his second and final presidential term. According to the constitution, Saakashvili cannot run for a third consecutive term.

Georgia's Central Election Commission has already registered 25 candidates for presidency.