‘Defend Georgia’ public movement holds meeting, presents priorities

A public movement “Defend Georgia” which is led by a Georgian poet Davit Magradze held a special meeting at Tbilisi concert hall yesterday.

Magradze called on everyone who considers that “a moral margin” between the current and former ruling parties – the Georgian Dream and the United National Movement (UNM) - has disappeared, to attend the meeting.

 Those, who have preserved your dignity in hardships and want to further live in dignity, come and join us”, he said.

The public movement aims to change the Georgian Dream, but without the UNM’s return to governance.

Both political organisations that are currently occupying the political space are almost requesting idolatry", Magradze said.

Young people are always free. Aspiration to freedom is their lifestyle and we want to lay foundation to this movement like it was long time ago”, he added.

Magradze said “Defend Georgia” does not aim to become a political party, but he believes a public movement can also have “influence on life and politics”.

Photo: Video grab from 'Defend Georgia' Facebook page

A lot of public figures and politicians attended yesterday’s meeting, including the former ruling party member Eka Beselia and former parliament speaker Davit Usupashvili, who currently leads ‘Development Movement’.

• 'Defend Georgia' was established in 2009 to counter then ruling UNM party. 
• The public movement supported Salome Zurabishvili in the country's last direct presidential elections.