Key opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili visits western Georgian town of Zugdidi today to call his supporters for peaceful march on Tbilisi to force President Shevardnadze to step down. It is anticipated that the opposition’s rally will be held in Tbilisi on November 20.
While Shevardnadze’s supporters rallied in Tbilisi on November 18, anti-governmental protests were held in several provincial towns. Demonstrators numbering between 300 and 500 gathered in the cities of Rustavi, Akhaltsikhe, Poti, Telavi, Zestaponi, Zugdidi, Abasha and Samtredia.
Couple of hounded of protesters, who arrived in Tbilisi from Adjara Autonomous Republic to support Shevardnadze, spent last night outside the Parliament building. Tsotne Bakuria of Revival Union party, who organized the pro-Shevardnadze rally, called supporters not to disperse and wait till the announcement of the final results of the November 2 parliamentary elections.
The opposition demands cancellation of the election results and resignation of President Shevardnadze. November 20 is a deadline for announcement of the November 2 parliamentary election results.
According to the preliminary results, Shevardnadze’s election bloc For New Georgia heads the polls, followed by the Revival Union, led by Shevardnadze’s ally Aslan Abashidze. Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement is only on the third place.