The leader of the Coalition for Change, Nika Melia, on Thursday emphasized that the current protests in Georgia against halted EU integration was not a political party movement, but a state process driven by the fight for freedom and a desire for independence.
He stressed that Georgians were engaged in this fight by the dictates of their conscience, writing a historic page of unity, resistance, and perseverance.
Melia accused the Georgian government, “led by Bidzina Ivanishvili”, its Honorary Chair and founder, of underestimating the participation of rally attendees, claiming that the government believes they are not joining the cause willingly.
He pointed out that after a week of the government halting Georgia’s movement towards Europe, the people of Georgia have responded by showing that their pursuit of freedom was unstoppable.
The leader also condemned the government’s increasing use of repression, citing the involvement of police forces in recent raids and attacks on opposition members. He specifically mentioned the arrest of opposition figures such as Nika Gvaramia and the “brutal treatment” of protesters, including the beating of Saba Skhvitaridze. Melia revealed that some of the masked attackers were found to be current or former police officers, including Mirian Kavtaradze, the former head of the Gldani Police Department.
