Georgian Parliamentary Committee Chair calls April 9 day of national unity

Davit Matikashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday described April 9 as a day of both “tragedy and dignity,” emphasizing the importance of unity in remembering the victims of the 1989 Soviet crackdown.

Speaking on the anniversary, Matikashvili urged the nation to “stay united in the face of external and internal challenges”, warning that “foreign powers and radical opposition forces seek to disrupt the country’s progress”. He called on Georgians to honor the sacrifices made on this day, stressing that national unity remained key to overcoming obstacles.

“April 9 was, is and will remain a day of national unity and consolidation,” Matikashvili said. “The memory of those who died for freedom obliges us to remain strong and united in the face of all challenges.”

The day marks the 36th anniversary of the Soviet military’s violent suppression of a peaceful pro-independence rally in Tbilisi, which resulted in at least 21 deaths. It also commemorates the declaration of Georgia’s independence from the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991.