Pre-election Rally Organized by United Opposition Underway at Freedom Square

A pre-election protest rally organized by the 'United Opposition - Power in Unity' is underway in Tbilisi, at Freedom Square. 

"Let's say goodbye to Bidzina" - with this slogan, members and supporters of the United National Movement marched from Tbilisi's Republic Square to Liberty (Freedom) Square. 

Supporters from the regions also joined the rally organized by the UNM.

Supporters will later be addressed by the opposition leaders.

Demonstrators claim that the main purpose of their protest is to show the government that there are many people against their ruling and that "Ivanishvili's government will lose the October 31 elections."

Based on the safety recommendations, the organizers habe called on the participants to observe social distancing and use face masks, apparently to little effect.

Upon joining the rally, they undergo thermal screening and are given face masks. 

Earlier, Members of the ultra-conservative movement Georgian March blocked the road connecting the cities of Rustavi and Tbilisi in order to hinder the demonstration and prevent the UNM supporters from entering Tbilisi. 

"We will not let the National Movement move from here," the movement leaders Irakli Shikhiashvili and Sandro Bregadze claimed.

The above caused tension and controversy between the sides. 

For the record, Opposition United National Movement Party and its supporters are planning to hold another mass protest rally in front of the parliament building on election day, October 31.

By Ana Dumbadze 

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Related Story: Opposition UNM Party to Hold Rally outside Parliament on Election Day