Rally Held at Freedom Square Demanding the Release of Mikheil Saakashvili
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Friday, October 15
A rally in support of the release of Mikheil Saakashvili - Free Misha - was held in Tbilisi yesterday, on October 14. People from different parts of the country gathered in the center of Tbilisi, at Freedom Square to demand the release of Mikheil Saakashvili.
The convoys of UNM supporters who left for Tbilisi from the regions were met with protest on the roads and insulted by ruling-party supporter activists. As seen in the released videos, activists threw brooms at the cars and cursed at the opposition party supporters.
Due to the rally of the UNM supporters, the traffic on Rustaveli Avenue - from the Republic Square to the Freedom Square - was temporarily restricted.
Nika Gvaramia read the ex-president's letter at the rally demanding Saakashvili's release. According to the ex-president, Mikheil Saakashvili, it is vital for the country that the parties stop humiliating each other, spreading hatred, rather, everyone should start forgiving each other.
Numerous people addressed the protesters. One of them was the Mayoral candidate of the UNM for Zugdidi, Anzor Melia. He called Saakashvili “a hero”, who “established the country”.
Near Freedom Square, where the rally was held, various units of the Interior Ministry, including representatives of the Special Task Department, were mobilized to maintain public order and security. Buses carrying law enforcement officers were parked near the Parliament.
The rally started at 18:00 yesterday and thousands of people attended it. People from Tbilisi as well as from the regions of the country gathered in the center of the city to protest the arrest of Georgia’s third president.
People gathered at the rally were saying that Saakashvili should not have been arrested and they demanded immediate release of him. In addition, people who addressed the protesters called on everyone to participate in the second round of the elections, which will be held on October 30.
Saakashvili was arrested on October 1. He went on a hunger strike the same day. On October 10, his doctor, Nikoloz Kipshidze, said that the ex-president's condition had worsened. The next day, Saakashvili's lawyer, Nika Gvaramia, said that the ex-president's health condition was satisfactory and that it was not worth complaining about.
Saakashvili has been convicted in cases of beating Valeri Gelashvili and Sandro Girgvliani in a three-instance court and has been sentenced to 6 years in prison. The decisions made by the court in these cases are final and cannot be appealed.
