The new generation might not know, or they might think that the evaluation of the regime of the United National Movement [UNM] is exaggerated, said the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, at the final election campaign event in Tbilisi.

“Since 2003, Georgia has been ruled by a regime controlled by external forces. Terror, violence, murder, torture, restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, business rackets were the everyday life of the country.

A hijacked state, a completely dead political process, persecution of opponents and physical retribution; the justice system turned into an instrument of torture, the prison as hell. The media is monopolized and subordinated to party interests, the border between the president, the state and the ruling party has been erased.

Such a catastrophic reality reigned in Georgia for years, however, with the support of foreign patrons, the UNM regime did much, much worse - committed an unforgivable betrayal of its own people and history, and in 2008 the country suffered the tragedy of war. In just a few days, Georgia lost hundreds of heroic fighters and civilians, in addition, the territory - more than a 100 villages and settlements, and tens of thousands of people became refugees in their own country.

It was added to this that practically parallel to the hostilities, 1st the lost war was celebrated by the population and then by signing the European Council resolution and agreeing to [Heidi] Tagliavini’s conclusion, they recognized the start of hostilities.

This is only a small list of the evils that the UNM committed while in power, however, this is enough to evaluate their regime”, - said Bidzina Ivanishvili.