Georgian UNM Member: October 4 Rally to Celebrate 'Return to European Integration'

Levan Sanikidze, a member of the opposition United National Movement, announced that the details of the October 4 rally will be revealed by the Rustaveli Avenue civic movement in collaboration with Levan Khabeishvili, despite his incarceration.

“Our goal is for hundreds of thousands of citizens to gather on Rustaveli Avenue. October 4 is the day of returning to the rails of European integration,” Sanikidze said, stressing that no one would be able to silence Khabeishvili’s rhetoric, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

He accused Georgian Dream and Bidzina Ivanishvili of carrying out a “state coup,” undermining the constitution, and diverting Georgia from its European path. According to him, the upcoming rally does not belong to any political party, including the UNM, but represents a broader civic movement involving various opposition groups, civic organizations, and public figures.

“Hundreds of thousands of Georgian citizens will deliver a clear ultimatum to remove Georgian Dream from power. How this will happen, the people themselves will see and take part in on October 4,” Sanikidze declared, adding that the event should mark a “historic breakthrough” for Georgia’s democratic development.

On October 4, a large-scale opposition rally is planned on Rustaveli Avenue, organized by the Rustaveli Avenue civic movement together with the United National Movement. The demonstration, which UNM leaders say aims to gather hundreds of thousands of participants, is framed as a “return to the rails of European integration.” Party representatives say the rally is intended as a popular movement rather than a party-led event, bringing together opposition groups, civic organizations, and prominent public figures to issue a united ultimatum to the ruling Georgian Dream government.