Georgian citizens have featured with EU flags in central Tbilisi, on the country’s Independence Day, following the government’s move to use only national symbols in this year's celebrations. 

Part of the country’s citizens have perceived the government’s move as a “sabotage” to the country’s European integration, ahead of the bloc’s forthcoming decision whether to grant Tbilisi its membership candidate status by the end of this year. 

The Georgian government administration on Thursday explained this year’s message for the day was “For the Love of Freedom”, and stressed the exterior of the capital city and the whole of Georgia had been decorated with only national symbols.. 

They claimed every year since 2016, this day had acquired “an additional theme, around which a campaign, slogan, congratulatory ring, and city-decoration are built”. 

However, domestic civil activists and the opposition claimed the government’s decision was “intentional” and indicated its “pro-Russian stance”.