“May 26 is a common national holiday, and the nation will celebrate it in such a way that radicals will not be able to achieve their own dirty goals,” said Davit Matikashvili, Chair of the Parliamentary Procedural Issues and Rules Committee, commenting on a statement by opposition politician Nika Gvaramia.

According to him, if anyone still attempts to violate the law, the state will respond appropriately.

“They have moved on to counting heads and are constantly calculating numbers that are still not enough for them to achieve their destructive goals, which shows they have no support from society. They again focus on foreign countries, seeking support and salvation there. That is exactly why any announced rally or attempt to create disruption ultimately ends in failure. Political forces without public support always end up like this - and I am confident the same will happen on May 26 as well.

They are trying to introduce some kind of dissonance into the national celebration of our Independence Day. This will not succeed. Nika Gvaramia was a co-creator of the sadistic regime of the ‘United National Movement,’ and he has nothing to say about May 26. The less they speak and the less agitation they create, the better it will be for them.

We all remember the ‘two bodies on rooftops,’ the bloodied Rustaveli Avenue, and the severely punished protesters. They tried to harm their own country while in power, and now, in opposition, they have the same intentions. No one can stand against the will of the Georgian people.

This is a national holiday, and the nation will celebrate it in such a way that external radicals will not achieve their dirty goals. If anyone still tries to break the law - which exists to protect public order - the state will respond appropriately. Everyone should be warned: anyone who decides to violate the law against the Georgian people will face a response from the state.

We expect May 26 to be celebrated joyfully in Georgia, and radicalism will not be able to stain it,” Matikashvili stated.

For context, Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the “Coalition for Change,” has called on citizens to attend a rally on May 26, Georgia’s Independence Day, at 19:00 on Rustaveli Avenue, urging large public participation.