The protest, which started from the Tbilisi State University, continues, and the rally protesters are marching toward the parliament building. The demands remain unchanged: new and free parliamentary elections and the release of prisoners of conscience.

Representatives of the United National Movement (UNM) party joined the rally. Petre Tsiskarishvili, one of the UNM leaders, said that the UNM’s acting members of the Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo) are present at the rally, which is a clear demonstration that the UNM does not intend to participate in the October 4 “Russian special operation.”

“Participation in it is in Ivanishvili’s interests. Our members have a clear stance that we should not take such a step and commit such a mistake,” Tsiskarishvili said.

Petre Tsiskarishvili negatively assessed the decision of the Lelo and Gakharia-for Georgia parties, which decided to run in the elections.

“We are politicians and we will participate in elections if they are fair, free and held in a competitive environment, without political prisoners. We retained the electoral number 5 for that purpose since this number is part of our political identity.

We will run in the next free and fair elections. We do not consider October 4 as an election. This is a special operation, and it is regrettable if they intend to enter into this special operation,” he said.