A rally ‘home to Europe’ to be held in Tbilisi, regions today ahead of EU’s candidate status decision

A rally entitled “home to Europe” organized by the civic movement Shame and NGOs is scheduled in the capital Tbilisi and regions today at 8pm. 

The rally was scheduled before the European Commission recommendation last week which said Ukraine and Moldova to be granted the EU candidate status, while Georgia only had a prospective for this. 

The Commission said that it would return to Georgia’s candidate status if the latter fulfilled several preconditions related to reforms and the engagement of the civil sector. 

The final decision, following the recommendation, is expected to come on June 24. 

The demonstrators are scheduled to initially gather in central Tbilisi, in front of the country’s state legislature. By 21:00, protesters will march to Europe Square, where the final part of the event will take place.

Nodar Rukhadze, a member of the Shame movement, suggested on Monday that “all citizens of Georgia are expected at the rally, as the move will be a crucial step to show our unity to Europe.” 

“The June 20 rally is the most important date. This is a symbolic gathering to show our European partners that, unlike the Georgian government, the citizens of Georgia have made a European choice and are ready to abide by that choice. On this day, we forget all the differences, all the party lines that divide us and will unite around what unites us – it is a return to the Euro-Atlantic family, EU integration, a better future, freedom, peace, development, economic prosperity, and so on.

‘I would like to add that we are waiting for June 24, because on this day the European Union will make the final political decision on Georgia’s candidate status,” he said. 

Along with Tbilisi, rallies will be held in other cities of Georgia for the same purpose – at 18:00 in Zugdidi, at 19:00 in Batumi and at 15:00 in Kutaisi.

Similar gatherings will be held in European cities – London, Prague, Hanover, Paris, Budapest, Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Reykjavik, Athens and Brussels.