High-ranking members of EU parliaments joined the ongoing demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The rally, organized by the opposition under the slogan We Are Europe, attracted thousands of participants.
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"We are glad to be here in Tbilisi again, in the real capital of Europe," said Michael Roth, Chairman of the German Bundestag's Foreign Relations Committee, addressing the rally participants and noting that the Georgian government criticizes them for "interference" in the country's internal affairs.
"Is it interference to meet the President of your country?" With a brave lady, a loyal lady of Europe, who will fight with you for the future of your country? Is it an interference to meet you, citizens of a proud country fighting for European values, democracy and free and fair elections? It is not about intervention, but about the common future in a united Europe, and that is why we are here. Dear friends, do not give up. We are with you, expressing our solidarity. We are all on the same side of history in the struggle for European freedom and against Russian imperialism. If you win, we win! If you survive, so will we!” said Roth.
Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Finnish Parliament Jukka Kopra, Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Swedish Parliament Erik Ottosson, Member of the Foreign Relations and European Union Affairs Committee of the Polish Parliament Michał Kamiński, and Vice Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament and Chairman of the European Affairs Committee Žygimantas Pavilionis also spoke at the rally.
"Someone is trying to take away your freedom, your democracy, your country, your membership in the European Union and NATO. Fight for your freedom, your democracy, your country. Fight for your membership in the European Union and NATO and remember, there is no Orbanian way to join the European Union. There is no Russian dream, there is a European dream and you are part of this Europe. There is the Estonian way, the Baltic way, the Polish way, the German way, the French way. You have to be the best to get into Europe!" said Pavilionis.
A delegation of parliamentarians from eight EU countries is in Tbilisi. During the day, they met with President Salome Zourabichvili, as well as representatives of the opposition and civil society. The European MPs also requested a meeting with representatives of Georgian Dream in the Parliament, but they were refused by the Chairman of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.
