United National Movement Holds Large Rally in Tbilisi

| News, Politics, Georgia

"Together Towards Europe" – a demonstration organized by the "National Movement" took place on April 9 in front of the parliament with this slogan. The rally opened with the anthems of Georgia, Ukraine, and the European Union. The rally focused on Georgia's path toward Europe.

Opposition political parties and representatives from various sectors of society converged at the rally, including Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of "Strategy Agmashenebeli." Vashadze declared that a united Georgian nation could overcome any obstacle and move toward progress. The recent March 7-9 protests against the "Agents law" echoed this sentiment, which saw widespread participation.

"For the final victory, we need three things: first, it is unity: the unity of the political spectrum, civil society, youth, elders, people of all generations, standing together of all worthy patriotic Georgians. Second, we need to support each other. We must not abandon any of our comrades in distress. Our task is to release Lazarus from prison in the near future because he should not be handed over to the regime under any circumstances. We must release the political prisoners Nika Gvaramia and Mikheil Saakashvili to move toward European development. Third, it is no step back, we must go forward, forward, and forward because the truth is towards us. You are the majority of this country. We see Georgia's worthy place in the European Union and NATO. We will definitely win!", Vashadze argued.

The leader of the United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili, laid out four demands addressed at the Georgian government. The first demand is the freedom of Lazare, a youngster who was arrested following the March demonstrations. The second demand is the immediate resignation of the judges (sanctioned by the US), the third demand is the freedom of Mikheil Saakashvili and Nika Gvaramia, and the fourth demand is the law of de-oligarchization, judicial reform, and the reform of the Central Election Commission.

He also offered political parties and leaders a discussion around the requirements mentioned. "My friends, around these four demands, we offer everyone a discussion, unity, and a common line of struggle, and I call on all political parties, political leaders, to put aside your personal and party interests, defeat the complexes in your head and do not care what the Russian oligarch will say about you. The most important thing is what His Excellency the Georgian people think about you. I want to promise each of you that the fight will continue, and the fight will continue until victory. The fight will be very difficult but at a short distance," said Khabeishvili.

In addition, Khabeishvili called on the people gathered in front of the parliament to unite, join hands and fight for victory, “My friends, Russian propaganda has been defeated. Regardless of political taste, we are all here together today for our national interests and the country's European future. No matter how much the Russian propaganda, our internal and external enemies told us that it turns out that there is only one party and there will be no other parties; it turns out that we must be united, it turns out that we must confront each other, and in fact, we must do everything on the contrary, we need unity, join hands and fight until victory. Today is the most important day when Georgia gained independence.”

"Meanwhile, everyone tells us that the president's [Saakashvili’s] torturers and murderers are not welcome in the EU. This is why Mikheil Saakashvili's freedom is important. Today, you saw here the fourth president, Giorgi Margvelashvili, who spoke about the importance of unity. You saw the political leader, Giorgi Vashadze, who also spoke about the importance of unity. Once and for all, this country should find out who is the real opposition and who is the so-called opposition!" - argued Khabeishvili.

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