Ex-Pres Saakashvili accuses authorities of planning demolition of Rike theatre building

Georgia’s arrested third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, has accused the country’s authorities of planning to demolish the Rike Theatre building in central Tbilisi, claiming the decision is being made on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

In a statement posted on social media, Saakashvili described the planned demolition as an attack on one of the most prominent architectural landmarks of modern Georgia. The Rike Theatre building was designed by renowned Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. 

Saakashvili alleged that the authorities are deliberately targeting projects completed during his presidency, arguing that the move is part of a broader effort to erase the political, cultural and institutional legacy of his time in office.

He also linked the alleged plan to earlier actions, claiming that the demolition of the Chacha Tower in Batumi had been used to test public reaction before moving on to what he described as “one of the most distinctive monuments of our era”.

Beyond architecture, Saakashvili accused the current leadership of dismantling key state institutions and policies introduced under his government, including reforms in education, healthcare, anti-corruption efforts and foreign policy, arguing that these developments have damaged Georgia’s international reputation.