Ruling party MP: voters of various parties, apolitical citizens, not only UNM supporters attend pro-European rally

Voters of almost all political parties,including my friends who support the Georgian Dream, not only those supporting the United National Movement (UNM) opposition attended a rally “home to Europe” on Monday in central Tbilisi, the ruling Georgian Dream party MP Beka Davituliani said on Tuesday. 

The rally organized by a civil movement Shame and various NGOs was held on central Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square, involving more than 100,000 individuals, said the organizers. 

It came ahead of the decision on June 24 by the European Council whether or not to grant Georgia a candidate status, following the recommendation of the European Commission Ukraine and Moldova to be granted the status and a European prospective, while Georgia only prospective. 

“Eighty  percent of the country’s population is in favor of European integration and, of course, there were people who went to the rally who are voters of different parties, including my friends who are voters of the Georgian Dream. They were to send the message that Georgia chooses Europe and deserves full membership in the European Union.

“The organizers of the rally, of course, were people affiliated with the United National Movement. However, as everyone knows that the appearance of politicians would harm the process, only affiliated groups were present. 

The rally organizers announced a fresh gathering on June 24.