On July 8, Mikheil Saakashvili, the former President of Georgia, announced a major restructuring initiative within the United National Movement (UNM), proposing the creation of a "Council of Reformers" that he would chair and nominating Nanuka Zhorzholiani as its Executive Secretary. In a statement published on social media, Saakashvili said the proposed Council would serve as a broad public platform, bringing together not only party members but also professionals, patriots and other individuals who have remained outside the party. He noted that extensive discussions over the UNM's future had taken place in recent weeks, adding that strong public engagement demonstrated many people still view the party as important for Georgia's future. At the same time, he acknowledged growing public dissatisfaction with the current state of the opposition and announced the launch of comprehensive internal reforms.

Saakashvili stated that, under the party's charter, the terms of office of all UNM officials expired on July 8. He thanked party officials for their work under what he described as extremely difficult conditions and paid special tribute to the party's regional supporters, calling them the movement's "main strength and indomitable spirit." According to Saakashvili, the party is entering a transitional period, with a congress scheduled for the end of July to elect an interim governing body. He emphasized that, given what he described as the conditions of dictatorship, the only formal leadership position that should remain unchanged is that of the party's leader, Levan Khabeishvili, as a gesture of solidarity while he remains imprisoned. Saakashvili added that the transition should be conducted carefully to avoid giving the authorities any formal grounds to ban the party. Saakashvili explained that the proposed Council of Reformers would oversee the UNM's comprehensive transformation and help build what he described as a modern, youth-oriented and people-centered political movement. He stated that the Council would operate under a horizontal governance model, with all members enjoying equal status and independence, while the party would place greater emphasis on promoting new faces and younger leaders.

Explaining his decision to nominate Zhorzholiani as Executive Secretary, Saakashvili stated that his imprisonment has significantly limited his ability to communicate directly with the public and prevented him from becoming personally acquainted with many emerging opposition figures. He said Zhorzholiani would become his principal link with society while coordinating the Council's work. Saakashvili added that the Council would present a comprehensive reform plan in the autumn. According to his proposal, the UNM would become a highly decentralized movement in which decisions would be made collectively by members and active supporters, formal leadership positions would be kept to a minimum, and all internal bodies would be elected and replaced through universal voting. He argued that traditional party structures cannot function effectively under what he described as a dictatorship and said the movement should adopt a decentralized model capable of operating even if the party were formally banned, with every member and supporter acting as an independent center of activity. He also announced plans to reform the party's funding model to allow broader direct participation by supporters. "Our goal is not competition with others or pointless debates, but focusing on removing the dictatorship, saving Georgia at this critical historical moment, and returning the country to the path of major reforms," Saakashvili stated.

In the same statement, Saakashvili reiterated that the Council of Reformers should become "a center of attraction and a public platform" not only for party members but also for professionals and patriots who have remained on the sidelines. He emphasized that its primary objective is "to once again bring something new to Georgian politics" and build a modern political movement centered on young people and public participation.