UNM makes human chain in central Tbilisi, commemorating Rose Revolution

The United National Movement opposition party and its activists have made a human chain in central Tbilisi today, from Freedom to Republic Square, to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Rose Revolution, a peaceful coup by former president Mikheil Saakashvili. 

The demonstrators have once again demanded the release of Saakashvili from prison, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile. 

Saakashvili wrote earlier today that the Rose Revolution ‘turned Georgia into a state from a territory thanks to fundamental reforms.’ 

He claims he returned ‘to save the country’ from the current state leadership. 

Saakashvili, who is now a citizen of Ukraine and holding an official post there, says he returned to remove the Georgian Dream government from power.  The former president 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.