UNM announces human chain tomorrow to mark 18th anniversary of Rose Revolution

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party will make a human chain from central Freedom to Rose square in central Tbilisi tomorrow to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Rose Revolution by former president Mikheil Saakashvili back in 2003. 

 

The party members say that it will be the only event tomorrow by the opposition which will ‘remind’ the government of the ‘important date.’ 

 

The UNM members say that the Rose Revolution, which peacefully removed Eduard Shevardnadze from power, was a ‘crucial date’ in the country’s history which ‘pushed Georgia’s western development.’ 

 

“We will also thank Saakashvili for the revolution at tomorrow’s event,” Anchor, UNM supporter Nanuka Zhorzholiani said. 

 

Saakashvili, who is now a citizen of Ukraine and holding an official post there, was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile. 

 

He says he returned to remove the Georgian Dream government from power. 

 

Saakashvili was convicted in Georgia in absentia back in 2018 for abuse of power and was sentenced to six years in prison. 

 

He has also been charged with five other offences, including illegal seizure of property, illegal rally dispersal, embezzlement and others.