Opposition UNM holding rally in Batumi
Batumi is one of the five self-governing cities where the municipal run-offs will be held on October 30. Photo: Eka Lortkipanidze/RFERL
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The opposition United National Movement (UNM) party is holding a rally in the Black Sea town of Batumi.
Local leader of the party Mirdat Kamadadze said the ruling Georgian Dream party is in minority in Batumi City Council (Sakrebulo).
This means that Batumi has said no to Bidzina Ivanishvili, nihilism and hispair”, Kamadadze addressed the crowd.
There is a week ahead of our final victory and the coalition city hall and multi-party majority in city council, which means that important decisions in this town will be made with your involvement”, he added.
In his address to the crowd, UNM mayoral candidate Giorgi Kirtadze thanked his supporters, who have joined today’s rally.
But the special thanks to one person watching us on TV, who loves our city most of all, encourages us most and needs our support now”, Kirtadze referred to ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.
UNM member Khatia Dekanoidze who runs for Kutaisi mayor's position in the run-offs also said that today’s rally aimed to show their opponents - the Georgian Dream party - how many they are.
Ex-president Saakashvili has meanwhile tweeted:
Streets of #Batumi, Georgia at the moment demanding freedom to political prisoner #MikheilSaakashvili pic.twitter.com/BYTjw6RrL3
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) October 23, 2021
UNM founder Mikheil Saakahsvili, who is currently holding Ukrainian citizenship, was detained in Tbilisi on October 1, a day ahead of the municipal elections.
Facing seven different charges, including the illegal crossing of the state border, Saakashvili remains on a hunger strike at No. 12 penitentiary facility in Rustavi.