Georgian, Ukrainian citizens rally in support of Ukraine in Tbilisi, Batumi

Ukrainian nationals living in Georgia joined Georgian citizens on Sunday in solidarity rallies in the capital Tbilisi and the Black Sea city of Batumi following the recent missile strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine by Russia, which killed 19 individuals and left dozens injured. 

Georgian and Ukrainian national anthems were played at the demonstrations, where participants brought flags of the two countries and denounced Russia as a “terrorist country killing civilians and occupying Ukrainian and Georgian territories”. 

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Organisers said they planned to make the rallies a periodic occurrence and noted they had raised $5,000 for the troops fighting the invasion to send them clothes. They also voiced their message of defiance to Russian president Vladimir Putin in comments about the event. 

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Initially planned as part of worldwide events of solidarity on Friday, the Georgian events were postponed due to the tragic incident in Tbilisi on Thursday, which saw one minor killed and two others injured in an electrocution incident in a newly renovated recreational area of the central Vake Park.

The rally in solidarity of Ukraine was held in around 70 countries worldwide, with demonstrators condemning the recent attack by Russia on Kyiv and other locations in Ukraine last Monday.