No one has the right to determine whether someone can bring a banner protesting the political imprisonment of “the man who first raised the European flag in this country,” stated Levan Sanikidze, member of the United National Movement.

Sanikidze made these comments regarding an incident that occurred during Europe Day celebrations, when civil activist Gota Chanturia reportedly demanded that a participant remove a banner of Mikheil Saakashvili from the event area.

“This was a very bad, unpleasant incident. With our efforts, this very unpleasant case has been resolved,” Sanikidze said.

He added: “If we are building a European state, which has been halted by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the society that protests Ivanishvili’s regime daily should have a legitimate expectation that civilised standards of free thought and expression must be protected in this country.”