Opposition parties and civil groups announce protest march in Tbilisi on July 19

Eight Georgian opposition parties, along with civil activists, families of detained protesters, and student groups, have announced a major protest march scheduled for July 19 at 7:00 PM. The march will begin at the First Building of Tbilisi State University and proceed to the Parliament building.

In a joint statement, the organizers reaffirmed their commitment to what they called an “unprecedentedly strong and righteous protest,” and declared their united demand for new, free parliamentary elections, rejecting participation in what they described as a “Russian special operation disguised as local elections.”

They condemned the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, accusing them of establishing a corrupt, anti-democratic regime that endangers Georgia’s independence and the freedoms of its citizens.

“The main threat to peace and stability in Georgia today is Ivanishvili’s political group, which has usurped power and is attempting to subjugate a free society,” the statement reads. “Georgian Dream is trying to impose a bandit-style regime and drag the country back into the chaos and violence of the 1990s.”

In contrast, the opposition stressed their belief that a secure, dignified life is only possible in a European-style democracy, where laws, courts, and government serve the people—not corrupt officials.

They called for Ivanishvili and his party to be “consistently isolated” not only at the national and international level, but also within local communities.

“We recognize only free elections. We reject Russian special operations. Our fight is just—let us stand firm together and we will win,” the statement concludes.