Ex-Pres Saakashvili: ‘mass opposition rally’ gave ‘new momentum’ to resistance movement

Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili has said Tuesday’s opposition rally in Tbilisi gave “new momentum” to what he described as a nationwide resistance movement defending Georgia’s independence and freedom.

In a statement published on social media, Saakashvili said the large turnout demonstrated that attempts by the authorities to establish fear and public nihilism had failed.

The former president said stronger organisation and “more struggle” would still be necessary, but argued that the government’s efforts to suppress protest sentiment had collapsed.

Saakashvili also criticised politicians who had boycotted the rally, describing the demonstration as a lesson for those who refused to support the protest movement.

He thanked participants, organisers and speakers at the rally, as well as demonstrators who carried photographs of him and other jailed opposition figures while calling for the release of what he described as political prisoners.

According to Saakashvili, the opposition had shown that unity and large-scale mobilisation strengthened resistance efforts.

He called for the protest movement to expand across the country and urged supporters to maintain and intensify the current momentum.