Paata Burchuladze, leader of the Rustaveli Avenue movement, claims Georgian Dream faces two options: “leave peacefully or resist and still be forced to leave”.

Burchuladze expects up to 300,000 people to attend protests planned for October 4.

“I expect we shall conduct a peaceful national assembly and peacefully hand over power. Should anyone follow Bidzina Ivanishvili’s madness, shootings and such, we shall respond very harshly indeed. They cannot stop this. They have two options: leave peacefully or resist but still be forced to leave. As for resistance, they’ll regret it bitterly,” Paata Burchuladze told PalitraNews.

Burchuladze further cautioned: “If they possess even a modicum of sense, several rally organisers must remain out of prison to ensure the protest remains manageable, that the crowds don’t become uncontrollable. We’ve already witnessed unmanageable crowds in Nepal.”

Speaking on PalitraNews programme, Burchuladze maintained his preference for peaceful change.

“We want to remove Bidzina Ivanishvili peacefully. Allow us the opportunity to do this peacefully. If you arrest everyone, people will come out and we’ll see what becomes of you,” Burchuladze stated.

Regarding the October 4 protest, Burchuladze announced three locations would be used simultaneously. He also advised that a proposed cabinet would be presented to the public that same day.

“We must have three locations. We will announce these locations later. We expect between 200,000 and 300,000 people. The first question will be whether you want the Georgian people to assume power within the constitutional framework. I’m confident everyone will say yes. From that moment, we take Georgia into our hands. We cannot simply state that the government should leave, because we don’t have the government today. We will provide an update later on the second and third issues. I believe they have enough sense not to open fire and to approach physically only.

On October 4, a proposed cabinet will be presented to the public; people need to know who they are. Everything will be announced accordingly. A technical government will be declared immediately. One must fight for peace; otherwise, coming out and chanting ‘down with the oligarchy’ has already had its day. Fight to the end; we must not surrender.

In my view, it will already be over by 8 o’clock. Power must have been transferred by then. From my perspective, the elections are being conducted in vain,” Paata Burchuladze declared.

Burchuladze also claims that law enforcement forces are currently advising their colleagues not to harm protest participants during these days.

“There will be many excellent appeals during these days, which we shall make public. We are not making them public yet because it is far too early. Law enforcement forces are addressing their colleagues again, telling them not to cause any harm to protesters,” Burchuladze concluded.