“We have gone through many battles and shed much blood over these 107 years to bring this day to the present as the starting point of our freedom as an independent state!” — wrote Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the leaders of “Lelo — Strong Georgia,” on social media in connection with Georgia’s Independence Day.

As Khazaradze explains, “We are still in the fight!”

“107 years ago, when ‘Georgia’s independence was broken,’ it became a matter of honor for the Georgian nation to protect and cherish it. We have gone through many battles and shed much blood over these 107 years to bring this day to the present as the starting point of our freedom as an independent state! We are still in the fight today! We still have to make sacrifices! Today, we stand face to face with the Russian regime so that they do not take away the most important thing called freedom and independence. Therefore, today, we need even more strength and courage to defend these values. Our freedom today depends on changing the Russian regime and freeing the prisoners! Therefore — freedom to the political prisoners! Long live free, independent Georgia!” — Khazaradze wrote on social media.