On May 31, Levan Khabeishvili, the Chair of the opposition United National Movement party (UNM), said that after sabotaging the EU candidate status, the "Russian Garibashvili" [Georgian PM] declared on behalf of Georgia that he does not want Georgia to join NATO.

"Who does not want Georgia to be a member of NATO and the EU? It is Putin, official Moscow, and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of our Russian party. Therefore, we urge the international community not to sanction Georgia but to begin sanctioning Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and his henchmen Irakli Kobakhidze and Irakli Garibashvili. It will be a significant and effective move," Khabeishvili stated.

UNM also declared its willingness to work with political parties and non-governmental organizations to create a coordinated action strategy against the Russian government.