UNM’s Botkoveli: detainees are patriots, their aim is to save country from regime

Giorgi Botkoveli, regional secretary of the opposition United National Movement, on Sunday described party leader Iraki Nadiradze and other people held after yesterday’s protests as “patriots” whose sole aim was to free Georgia from a regime he accused of eroding the country’s sovereignty.

“Now is not the time to lower our hands or stop the fight,” Botkoveli said.

Speaking in a post-election address, Botkoveli urged unity and persistent civic action, rejecting the idea that a small number of people should determine the nation’s fate. He expressed solidarity with those detained and said their detention should not deter supporters from continuing to push for political change.

Botkoveli also condemned what he described as violent actions against activists during recent events and argued that demonstrators - including families and returning emigrants - had legitimate reasons to gather in Tbilisi in large numbers. He called on Georgians to remain engaged and insisted that peaceful, united civic pressure could force political change.