Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile, claims that ‘if my life is not enough to save the country (from the regime of the Georgian Dream), then I am ready to die (for the goal).’ 

Saakashvili’s vows came ahead of his United National Movement (UNM) opposition party rally in central Tbilisi now, where demonstrators are demanding the release of the former president. 

The UNM claims that ‘thousands of people are attending the rally on central Freedom Square in Tbilisi, including a number of demonstrators from Georgian regions. 

“Let’s the Georgian Dream ruling party count the number of protestors, they are quite good at this, and will see how many people are demanding Saakashvili’s release,” UNM member Nugzar Tsiklauri said. 

The party says that the motorcade of the UNM supporters from regions has faced various problems by the GD activists and supporters to humper their reaching the destination. 

Saakashvili was convicted in Georgia in absentia in 2018 and was sentenced to six years in prison for abuse of authority. 

The ex-president has also been charged with four other offences related to

the illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border-crossing.

He says that he is a ‘political prisoner.’