“This is an outrageous development, an authoritarian development that is happening in Georgia now, and I have great respect for the people who again and again fill the streets and use the right to demonstrate to express their dissatisfaction with the current situation, despite the oppression,” Thunberg said.
According to local media, opposition leaders announced the rally a few days ago, marking the second major protest since the elections. Following the ballot, the European Commission delivered a critical progress report on Georgia’s EU accession, putting put the country’s membership aspirations on ice.
“This week is the week of resistance marches throughout Tbilisi,” Giorgi Vashadze, a member of the opposition United National Movement, said during the rally.
“We demand the appointment of new elections. We do not recognize the stolen elections and we do not recognize the legitimacy of the parliament,” he said, warning that protests will intensify in the days to come.
“Joining this fight is not only our responsibility, it is the responsibility of everyone,” he added.
