expressed their interest in cooperating with Alasania's newly formed party. Two days after the announcements were made Gia Karkarashvili, former Minister of Defense during the War in Abkhazia, expressed his full support for Alasania's ideas. On February 23, 2009, Alasania's team joined the Republican and New Rights parties in an alliance called "The Alliance for Georgia". Alasania became the alliance's chairman, while Davit Usupashvili of the Republican Party and Davit Gamkrelidze of the New Rights became co-chairmen. The alliance called on President Saakashvili to agree within next ten days to allow the voters decide whether they wanted early presidential elections through a nationwide referendum. On 16 July 2009, the political party Our Georgia – Free Democrats was founded and Alasania was chosen as its chairman. In September 2009, the Alasania announced that he would run for Tbilisi mayor's post in local elections in May 2010. In February 2012, the Georgian Dream Political Coalition was founded with the Free Democrats as one of three co-founding political parties. On 2012 Georgian parliamentary election, Alasania was 3th no. in coalition's proportional list and majoritarian candidate in Zugdidi constituency. Alasania got 36,01% and finished on second place. Coalition won election and got 85 seats in parliament. Alasania served as Minister of Defense from October 2012 until November 2014, when Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili replaced him with Mindia Janelidze, after 6 of Ministry's senior members were arrested on charges of embezzlement and Alasania called it "attack on Euro-Atlantic choice". After this, "Free Democrats" leaved ruling coalition and withdraw into opposition. On 2016 Georgian parliamentary election, "Free Democrats" participated independently. Alasania was leader of party's proportional list and majoritarian candidate in 41th constituency of Gori. Alasania got 19,38% and went in second tour, but, on 10 October, after "Free Democrats" got 4,63% and became an extra-parliamentary force, Alasania leaved politics and refused to participate in second tour. References 1973 births Living people People from Batumi Mingrelians Free Democrats (Georgia) politicians Government ministers of Georgia (country) Permanent Representatives of Georgia (country) to the United Nations Diplomats of Georgia (country) Abkhaz–Georgian conflict