On Independence Day, Georgian activists hold marches

In central Tbilisi, activists have held marches to mark the 107th anniversary of the Georgia's declaration of independence. Participants in one of the marches have called on the authorities to release those detained during protests.

In Tbilisi, activists held a march from the former building of the Public Broadcaster to the building of the Georgian Parliament. They carried flags of Georgia and the European Union (EU), and chanted "No justice? No peace!", "Freedom for regime’s prisoners!" and other slogans, the “Interpressnews” reports.

The action was organized "only by public activists," said Giorgi Chanturiya, one of the marchers. "Students, poets, family members of the regime's prisoners, politicians, and so on will gather at the Parliament. The main thing is to maintain unity. Provocations are possible today; the main thing is not to succumb to them and celebrate today in an appropriate manner," the report quotes him as saying.

Today, the “Shevardeni” girls' march also was held in central Tbilisi; the marchers were inspired by the events of 1919, when gymnasts from the “Shevardeni” society held a march through the city in honour of the Independence Day, the “JAMnews” outlet reports.

The action became a reminder "of the forgotten history of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia and the role of women in the national movement," the outlet reports. The march ended at the National Youth Palace; it was there that the Georgia's independence was proclaimed on May 26, 1918.

On the occasion of the Independence Day, festive events are planned in all regions of the country. The authorities have planned their events in Freedom Square, as well as in the Alexander Garden, in Orbeliani Street and in the adjacent areas, the News-Georgia” has reported.

Earlier, on May 24, the participants of the daily protests were unable to hold their rally near the Parliament, because the square was being prepared for the Independence Day. They blocked traffic 500 meters from the Parliament, near the Opera and Ballet Theatre, also located in Rustaveli Avenue.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 26, 2025 at 04:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.