UNM’s Pavlenishvili: Ban on UNM rally at Rike Park is unlawful

“It turns out that free citizens of Georgia cannot hold a rally at Rike Park. It is impossible for people to be restricted from moving in public spaces, parks and squares because Ivanishvili is still most afraid of Saakashvili,” Irakli Pavlenishvili, Chairman of the Temporary Governing Council of the United National Movement (UNM), said.

According to Pavlenishvili, the Interior Ministry’s refusal to allow the rally to be held at Rike Park is unlawful.

“Yesterday, we received information from the Interior Ministry that, apparently, a rally cannot be held on October 1, five years after Mikheil Saakashvili was imprisoned, to demand Saakashvili’s freedom. It turns out that free citizens of Georgia cannot hold a rally at Rike Park unless they have permission from the Interior Ministry and the Tbilisi City Hall.

“This instruction is, of course, completely unlawful. The Ivanishvili regime is still most afraid of the United National Movement. They know very well that the nine-year period of development will inevitably continue in this country and the 14 years of destruction will come to an end. They know the role Mikheil Saakashvili, together with the United National Movement and the Georgian people, will play in dismantling this regime,” Pavlenishvili said.

He called on supporters to attend the rally despite what he described as technical obstacles.

“Once again, I call on everyone: no matter what technical obstacles they create for us, we will definitely go to the Rike Tubes, which have become a symbol of Georgia’s devastation and plunder. The Rike Tubes were supposed to be a symbol of a modern, strong and developed state and Tbilisi.

We will definitely go to the Rike Tubes and gather there on October 1 at 5 p.m. I invite everyone who understands the importance of Mikheil Saakashvili’s freedom to join us,” Pavlenishvili said.