24 November 2021, 11:18
Tbilisi: several hundred come to celebrate anniversary of "Rose Revolution"
The participants of the action in honour of the 18th anniversary of the "Rose Revolution" have lined up in a human chain in central Tbilisi. They called for the release of former Georgian President Mikheil (Mikhail) Saakashvili and holding early elections.
In November 2003, a "colour revolution" took place in Georgia, which defined the course of the country's development for at least the entire subsequent decade. The reason for the coup was the accusations of the then government of rigging the parliamentary elections. After prolonged mass protests, on November 23, the then President Eduard Shevardnadze was forced to resign. He was replaced by young politicians who were at the head of the people's demonstrations – Mikhail Saakashvili, Nino Burdjanadze and Zurab Zhvaniya.
On November 23, several hundred people came out to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the "Rose Revolution" on the Peace Bridge across the Kura River and Rustaveli Avenue to the parliament.
Zaal Udumashvili, one of the leaders of the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party, told reporters during the rally that the action was not only timed to the revolution date, but to a greater extent was aimed to demand the liberation of Mikhail Saakashvili.
The rally participants formed a human chain, stretching along the double solid line in the middle of Rustaveli Avenue from the parliament building to the stele of Saint George the Victorious in Freedom Square.
"On the revolution anniversary, we have to protest again, to demand the release of the author of the reforms; and we have to demand a restart of these reforms. Yes, we need the release of Saakashvili; we need early elections to sweep away this government and form a new team that will continue the reforms, continue to improve our life," said Ramazi, a taxi driver.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 24, 2021 at 01:56 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Beslan Kmuzov Source: CK correspondent
