Mikheil Saakashvili has been awarded the Sjur Lindebrekke Prize🇳🇴
"
@SaakashviliM
represents democratic forces. Support for him is support for demecracy in Europe... also a statement of support for the many who are monitored, oppressed & persecuted."
#Hoyre
On Feb 20, at the intiative of
@FeyginMark4
& as part of global action in support of
@SaakashviliM
, Georgians, Ukrainians & other nat's rallied across Europe & US to demand ex-President's release & save his life threatened in captivity of Russian oligarch Ivanishvili
#SaveMisha
Thousands gathered at Tbilisi City Court today in solidarity with politically persecuted ex-Pres
@SaakashviliM
who was denied by Ivanishvili's authoritarian regime the right to attend his own trial in gross violation of 🇬🇪 Constitution & the European Convention on Human Rights
‼️ Our central office in Tbilisi is currently under siege by what seems to be pro-government mobs. Rocks are being thrown at windows. There are attempts to enter the building.
President
@SaakashviliM
's first appearance in Tbilisi Court today after 50 days of hunger strike: "My life in prison was saved by PD of 🇬🇪, the medical council but first & foremost by the people. People are the main power & people should not give up fighting for their future."
Pres
@SaakashviliM
's son Eduard addresses GD supporters: I sincerely want the time to come when society together objectively in a balanced way will evaluate the past but what is happening now has gone beyond even political justice & turned into a very dangerous & ugly retribution
Pres
@SaakashviliM
collapsed during the meeting with lawyers and remained unconscious while stretchered off supposedly to a prison medical unit. His condition is unknown. GD still refuses to transfer him to a civilian hospital.
Thousands gathered at the rally in Tbilisi in solidarity with
@SaakashviliM
and to protest against the political persecution of the 3rd President of Georgia
#FreeMisha
Thousands marched through the streets of Tbilisi in protest against the inhuman and degrading treatment of hunger striking ex-Pres
@SaakashviliM
deprived by 🇬🇪 authoritarian regime of healthcare & fair trial. Don't kill!
#FreeMisha
Photos:
@RFERL
@TvPirveli
Public Defender's Expert Group assessment of
@SaakashviliM
's Medical Condition
"Continuation of medications alone, under similar conditions, will be ineffective & will lead to aggravation of his condition, which may lead to irreversible consequences."
On 18th anniversary of the Rose Revolution🌹a human chain was formed in Tbilisi to commemorate the achievements that transformed 🇬🇪 & set on its path to European & Euro-Atlantic integration. Today, our freedom, democracy & 🇪🇺 future are at stake.
#FreeMisha
🇬🇪
🎥
@RTavisupleba
We welcome the proposal brought up today by President
@Zourabichvili_S
to form a common vision for pro-Western parties on the reforms necessary for our European integration.
We join the Georgian Charter initiated by the President.
Ex-President
@SaakashviliM
's mother Giuli Alasania appeals to the international community: "My only son is being slowly killed in front of my eyes. Let us all together save his life."
You’ve made us live through this for 12 years. But your time is over. 146 days until the Georgian people delivers you a historical defeat.
We won’t back down. European values won’t back down. Freedom never backs down.
UNM expresses its unconditional support for
#Georgia
's strategic partner & friendly country
#Ukraine
in the fight for freedom. 🇬🇪 and 🇺🇦 are facing common challenges. De-occupation and freedom are our common struggle.
#StandWithUkraine
Full statement👇
Against numerous calls by doctors, Ombudsman, human rights organizations, hungerstriking Pres
@SaakashviliM
was forcefully taken by the authorities to penitentiary hospital subjecting him to various threats to his health & physical safety in violation of fundamental human rights
“We're not asking to feed Misha, or any political demands, we're just asking to not kill the 3rd Pres of🇬🇪& give him proper treatment, which is provided to any other prisoner in this country,”
@Helenkhosh
,
@MovementDroa
Chair, on hunger strike for 13 days.
Putin started the Russian-Georgian war because he could never win the peace.
But just as Putin couldn’t win the peace, he cannot win the war.
The only solution is military victory for 🇺🇦.
Any type of appeasement would invite a global catastrophe.
Today, we mark 100 years since the
#Constitution
, one of the most progressive documents of that time, was adopted by the Democratic Republic of
#Georgia
. The short-lived independence was ended in 1921 by invasion of Russian Red Army and the
#Sovietoccupation
of Georgia 🇬🇪
"Either GE 🇬🇪goes in LTU 🇱🇹 way or it turns into Belarus. When we were entering EU and NATO, left and right always worked together. We never imprisoned anyone. If repressions and conflicts continue, Georgia's chances will be killed"
@ZygisPavilionis
after meeting w/
@NikaMelia5
All across Georgia, we’re gathering hundreds of thousands of petition signatures to call for the release of Mikheil Saakashvili.
You can join us by going on
On day 36 of hunger strike,
@SaakashviliM
's health condition is close to critical. 🇬🇪 gov still refuses to transfer the ex-President to a civil hospital despite multiple calls by doctors, Ombudsman, State Inspector's Office & civil society on urgent need for adequate medical help
Levan Khabeishvili has stepped down as Chair of UNM over the urging of his doctors to scale back his activities, a month after his brutal assault by the Ivanishvili regime that resonated around the world.
Levan, thank you for your tireless efforts. See you on the campaign trail!
75 years of NATO making Europe and the world a more stable and peaceful place for the next generations to live in prosperity.
Ever since our foundation, UNM has advocated for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. And we will always do so.
#StrongerTogether
#1NATO75years
@SwedenNato
@gustafgothberg
Our most sincere congratulations to the people of Sweden.
The day will come when the flags of Ukraine 🇺🇦 and Georgia 🇬🇪 will join yours!
"The West needs to step in and do so quickly. It should sanction those responsible for [
@SaakashviliM
's] mistreatment and target in particular Ivanishvili, who has caused damage to Georgian democracy that may take generations to rebuild."
Today,
@UNMGeorgia
's Political Council decided to take the party's elected seats in the 🇬🇪 parliament to work for free and fair elections, much-needed electoral and judicial reforms and policies that keep Georgia on a path toward European & Euro-Atlantic integration.
10 MPs from UNM/Strength in Unity started hunger strike today in 🇬🇪 Parl demanding the transfer of
@SaakashviliM
to civil hospital. Authorities still deny ex-Pres the possibility to end hunger strike, keep him in critical health condition in prison hospital w/t any med treatment
Up to ten gunshots were fired today at
@NikaMelia5
's banner on
@UNMGeorgia
headquarters from a vehicle moving on a highway. Shooting was caught on UNM outdoor CCTV cameras. The incident was immediately reported to police. We hope for a proper investigation into the case.
Georgian cameraman of
@TvPirveli
, who had been beaten in government-sanctioned violence by far-right, pro-Russian groups on Monday, has died today. Freedom of media, human rights, statehood and democracy are under attack. We must speak up! Do not let the Russian scenario unfold!
15 y/a, 🇷🇺regular army crossed the intl'y recognized border & launched its full-scale military aggression a/st 🇬🇪. 20% of🇬🇪remain under🇷🇺occupation. 🇬🇪's sovereignty was saved thanks to 🇬🇪 soldiers' heroic resistance & the support of 🇬🇪's intl friends.
Glory to the heroes!
Sweden joining NATO makes Northern Europe safer, the Transatlantic family stronger, and the free world more united against today's challenges.
Our sincere congratulations to our partners at
@moderaterna
and
@kdriks
on this historical new page.
Ukraine and Georgia are up next!
Nick Melia has been elected as a new Chairman of
@UNMGeorgia
through an innovative platform of online voting. The new practice of online voting will contribute to ensuring broad public inclusion in the party decision-making process and enhancing internal party democracy.
Yesterday was not a normal day for Georgia
The arrest of analyst Ucha Abashidze by the Ivanishvili regime, attempts to intimidate TV Pirveli’s journalists, staff and guests, assaults on opposition politicians, violent arrests in Tbilisi are all part of a terror campaign…
Mikheil Saakashvili has been unequivocally endorsed by the UNM Political Council and the opposition coalition ''Strength in Unity'' for the Prime Minister
#SaakashviliforPrimeMinister
#Elections2020
JOINT STATEMENT BY PRO-WESTERN, DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL PARTIES
We appreciate the steadfast and effective efforts of the United States in protecting the Constitution, the sovereignty, and the liberty of Georgia, as well as the European and Euro-Atlantic future of our nation 🧵
UNM was the first party in Georgia to support Georgia’s European integration.
Now, we’re the first party to deepen its integration in the European political family.
UNM is officially an Associate Member of the
@EPP
! 🇬🇪🇪🇺
As we feared, early this morning the Georgian government authorized a raid on the headquarters of the United National Movement, the main opposition party, to arrest its chairman, Nika Melia, on politically motivated charges. The use of force by the government included hundreds of
On April 9, 1989, thousands of Georgians demanding the country's independence from USSR were brutally crushed by Soviet troops killing 21 persons, leaving hundreds injured or poisoned by gas. Same day in 1991, Georgia restored its independence after 70 years of Soviet occupation.
Creative director of
#Balenciaga
fashion house, Demna Gvasalia called for the release of
@SaakashviliM
.
Thousands of Georgian's are signing the petition that demands
@SaakashviliM
's release.
The man who proved post-Soviet democracy possible, lies near death in a 🇬🇪prison... Georgia’s current government risks having a political prisoner die at its hands.
"If Europe and the U.S. are satisfied with releasing
@NikaMelia5
from prison, but say nothing about abuses in the October election, then the regime essentially has an incentive to take more hostages."
ჩვენი მიზანია, ახალ თაობაზე და მათ ჯანსაღ განვითარებაზე ორიენტირებული სახელმწიფოს შექმნა.
ამისთვის აუცილებელია სახელმწიფოს მხრიდან ისეთი ფუნდამენტური ნაბიჯის გადადგმა, როგორიცაა საჯარო სკოლებში უფასო სასკოლო კვების პროგრამის დანერგვა.
Our joint statement with other pro-European political parties against the renewed Foreign Agent Law.
"Change must be a priority for all of us, a change that will bring multi-partisan, democratic governance and will be a guarantee of Georgia's return to the European family."
Georgia was once the most exciting and innovative economy in this huge region.
We can do it again. All it takes is will.
And we can start by making Georgia a global IT hub by making the entire IT sector completely tax-free.
For the first time in 16 years, Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration is not included in a NATO Summit Declaration.
For the first time in 16 years, the North Atlantic Alliance has not reiterated the promise that Georgia would one day join
@NATO
.
Our nation is in distress.
"This is a non-violent protest, tough move, we have no other choice but to put pressure on the regime so that it loosens its grip on🇬🇪state it has captured,"
@NikaMelia5
🇬🇪s "long-time dream& historic aspiration of🇪🇺 integr'n is under threat",
@SaakashviliM
Pres
@SaakashviliM
's Appeal to the Intl Comm:
I urge my friends all around the world who care abt freedom to raise their voices against lawlessness & emergence of Putin-style practices in🇬🇪, a country where people fight for democracy & which was once hailed as a beacon of freedom
The fate of the next generation will be decided in this year’s election.
It is not a normal election. We have to fight against an unprecedented political machine that wants to cement its years-long anti-Western rhetoric and formalize a sharp turn towards Russia. 🧵
UNM leader Nick Melia voices the public demand to Ivanishvili to dismiss the Head of CEC and negotiate with opposition leaders on holding the repeat elections with new electoral administration
#FreeMisha
rally in Batumi, where the UNM and opposition unified mayoral candidate Giorgi Kirtadze is leading after the first round of elections and will compete in October 30th runoff
Last week, UNM cast its first-ever vote in the
@EPP
Political Assembly as an Associate Member!
This is a time of historical changes that will make Europe more united and stronger. We’re proud to be a part of that.
#NoToRussianLaw
!
Today, the Georgian people stands united against this flagrant attempt to derail Georgia’s European path.
Both in Parliament and outside, we will fight against this bill and for our European future.
🇬🇪🇪🇺
14 years ago today, the Smolensk Tragedy cost the lives of President Lech Kaczyński, his wife Maria, and dozens more.
Lech and Maria were passionate friends of Georgia. They were dedicated to helping us on our path to freedom and Europe.
We will always remember them.
🇵🇱🇬🇪
UNM Chair
@NikaMelia5
is released from prison on bail posted by the EU. Melia was held in pre-trial detention on pol motivated charges for 2 months+. We thank 🇪🇺&🇺🇸for their continued engagement w/🇬🇪 during the pol crisis, and for serving as a beacon for 🇬🇪 Western aspirations.
FM
@radeksikorski
calls on Pres. Zurabishvili at
@MunSecConf
to release
@SaakashviliM
: "To many of us, he is a symbol of modernization of Georgia... It’s very important that he be treated fairly and you could contribute to his release. Those who wish 🇬🇪 well would welcome it.”
Georgian Dream decided to keep
@NikaMelia5
in prison as an instrument for bargaining against the opposition and deepen the political crisis. Once again, Prosecutor's Office and Court proved their full subordination to political decisions and oligarchic rule.
We are proud to announce the appointment of two new Vice-Chairmen of UNM: Zaza Gogava and Igor Narmania.
Their appointment by Chair
@TinaBokuchava
is meant to increase internal democracy and promote the role of young people in our movement. 👇
Today is
#WorldAutismAwarenessDay
and a chance to remember our commitment for a fully-inclusive society, from early education to the workplace, in cities and villages - for all.
United opposition "Strength in Unity" presidential candidate Gregory Vashadze met with Wess Mitchell, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. US-Georgia relations, Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, GE's domestic and regional challenges were discussed
Meet
@TinaBokuchava
, the new Chair of UNM!
Tina has a long background in policy-making and diplomacy, a graduate of
@smithcollege
and
@FletcherSchool
and working at times for NDI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
@UNMGeorgia
Chair
@NikaMelia5
has been arrested this morning in a police raid of the party HQ involving hundreds of patrol police and special forces. Pepper spray was used against the opposition leaders and supporters