UNM to hold rally today, on Saakashvili’s birthday

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party is scheduled to hold a rally in central Tbilisi today, on the birthday of imprisoned former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. 

 

The demonstrators, who will gather and block Rustaveli Avenue by 18:00 today, will demand the release of Saakashvili from prison. 

 

UNM member Zaal Udumashvili has told journalists that a stage will be made in front of the parliament building of Georgia not to humper New Year events, where politicians and others will address the public. 

 

Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile. 

 

He claims he returned to help the opposition remove the current state authorities from office. 

 

He is now serving a sentence for abuse of power, he was convicted in absentia back in 2018. 

 

Saakashvili, who is now a citizen of Ukraine, has also been charged with five other offenses which are still in courts.