Tens of thousands of Georgians took into the streets in the capital Tbilisi, demanding the release of Georgian ex-president and opposition leader, Mikheil Saakashvili.
Chanting Saakashvili’s nickname “Misha!” and waving national flags, demonstrators called for the immediate and unconditional release of Saakashvili.
An estimated 50,000 people have participated in the rally.
Georgia’s president from 2004 to 2013, Saakashvili was imprisoned upon his return from exile in Ukraine.
Saakashvili’s lawyer Nika Gvaramia read out an address to the crowd.
“Georgia must return to its pro-Western path and become a beacon of democracy, reforms and development,” the letter said.
“It is time to save Georgia through our national unity and reconciliation,” he further said.
Prior to his arrest, he had posted on Facebook a video message calling on supporters to take to the streets against the government.
Saakashvili announced his return from Ukraine to the country he left in 2013 via Facebook, saying “I risked my life and freedom to return!”.
Thus, the government had warned him that they will arrest him immediately for “abuse of power”.
However, critics have accused it of using criminal prosecutions to punish political opponents and journalists.
But, Interpol turned down requests from Tbilisi to issue a red notice against Saakashvili.
In 2018, he received a six-years prison sentence for contempt of court. Saakashvili argues the case against him is political.
