Opposition Bloc Rallies Ahead of Polls

Thousands rallied at a nine-party opposition bloc organized outdoor meeting in downtown Tbilisi on May 18, three days before the parliamentary elections.

“We will change this government on May 21 and the political terror will be over; we will put an end to the Saakashvili regime and start building the Georgian state,” Levan Gachechiladze the nine-party bloc leader said at the rally. “This is a struggle for every pensioner, teacher, doctor, war veteran; struggle for the Georgian culture, the Georgian science, the Georgian Orthodox Church.”

“I call on you to gather here at 11pm on May 21 and we will announce real result of the elections. If they [the authorities] do not announce real results voluntarily, we will force them to announce it. I am sure that the Georgian police and the Georgian army will stand where the Georgian people stand.”

In his speech Gachechiladze also said he wanted to address “non-Georgians.” “I want to address Abkhazians, Ossetians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Russians and all others who are citizens of Georgia,” he said. “I love them as I love my Georgians. We should build the Georgian state together. Abkhazia and Samachablo [some in Georgia refer to breakaway South Ossetia as Samachablo or Tskhinvali Region] problems should be resolved only through peaceful way, through way of friendship and love.”

Davit Gamkrelidze, the leader of New Rights Party – part of the nine-party bloc, said at the rally: “The purpose of the unification of the nine opposition parties was “to put and end to the Saakashvili’s bloody regime.”

“Some ask what will happen if the united opposition comes into power; I will tell you what will happen: violence and injustice will be put to the end and independent court system will rule.”

Opposition leaders have also pledged that they would protect votes and would not allow the authorities to rig the ballot. 

After rallying near the Sport Palace on Sunday, the opposition supporters then moved outside the Central Election Commission (CEC) and dispersed afterward.

Meanwhile, an election bloc uniting Traditionalist Party, Our Georgia Party and Women’s Party withdraw its majoritarian MP candidates from Tbilisi’s three single-mandate constituencies – Vake (Irma Jangirashvili), Saburtalo (Lia Mukhashavria) and Chugureti (Guguli Magradze) – in favor of the nine-party bloc candidates on May 18.

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