UNM opposition party formally kicked off its election campaign on Saturday with an outdoor rally in Zugdidi, town in Samegrelo region in western Georgia.

UNM named chief of staff of local city council, Sakrebulo, Teimuraz Basilaia as a candidate for Zugididi mayoral office for the June 15 local elections.

Tengiz Gunava, will run as UNM’s candidate for the post Zugdidi municipality’s head (gamgebeli). Gunava, ex-chief of police in Samegrelo, served as governor of the region in 2013 under then president Mikheil Saakashvili.

There was heavy police presence in Zugdidi center as anti-UNM rally was also held in parallel to opposition party’s gathering; a minor scuffle took place, but no major incident was reported.

A day earlier UNM also named its mayoral candidate for Batumi in Adjara Autonomous Republic. A member of Batumi Sakrebulo, Giorgi Diasamidze, will run for mayor of this port town.