A rally of Saakashvili's opponents was held near Rustavi prison
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, October 18
Another rally was held in Georgia regarding Saakashvili’s release from jail. This time, it was opponents of Saakashvili who organized the protest. Near the Rustavi prison, the activists expressed their opposition against the third president of the country.
As it was reported by online media outlets, those gathered in Rustavi were the employees of the Rustavi City Hall, members of the Rustavi Sakrebulo majority, and the activists of the Georgian Dream youth wing.
One of the employees of the Rustavi City Hall, Giorgi Tsilosani, said that the protest was held by the families affected by the ‘Saakashvili's rule in Georgia’. Many of the protesters said that they were not representing any party, and they were protesting to support the families who ‘suffered during the previous government’.
The participants of the rally near the Rustavi prison demanded the life imprisonment of the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and the banning of the UNM party.
People who blamed the government of Mikheil Saakashvili for the death of their relatives and friends spoke at the rally. Among the protesters were arrested during the rule of the National Movement and were released as political prisoners after the Georgian Dream came to power.
Mikheil Saakashvili, who returned to Georgia from Ukraine, was detained by law enforcers in Tbilisi on October 1 and is currently in Rustavi prison. The ex-president was sentenced in absentia to imprisonment in two cases, while he has been charged in two other cases.
On the other hand, on Thursday, October 14, supports of Saakashvili held a rally in Tbilisi. Thousands of people gathered and demanded the release of Saakashvili from the prison. The rally, organized by UNM, was attended by supports of the party from all over the country.
Since his arrest, Saakashvili has been on a hunger strike. Saakashvili's personal doctor, Nikoloz Kipshidze, said that after his visit with Saakashvili, he believes that it might the necessary to hold a medical council before about Saakashvili's health before Tuesday.
According to Kipshidze, Mikheil Saakashvili feels morally good but has difficulty walking, and general weakness.
“Hospitalization is not necessary at the moment, but let's see. His situation is worse than it was during the previous meeting,” said Mikheil Saakashvili's doctor, adding that he would provide this information to the prison doctor as well.
Saakashvili started a hunger strike on October 1.
