The United National Movement responds to the statement, issues today by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“On November 14, the UNM made a public statement, according to which on November 15, 2021, a march will be held in support of Mikheil Saakashvili.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has stated in advance that the participants of the march are violating the law and the Constitution. The statement misinterprets the norms of Georgian law with the aim to prevent the announced rally and announces the arrest of peaceful demonstrators.

Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly. Accordingly, the state has an obligation not only to protect the peaceful assembly, but also to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective realization of the right.

We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and relevant structures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the meeting and the fulfillment of the obligations imposed on them by law. In particular, according to Part 5 of Article 11 of the Law of Georgia on Assemblies and Demonstrations, “in case of necessity to block a road due to the number of participants in the assembly or demonstration, the executive body of the relevant municipality is obliged to ensure their safety”, - reads the statement.