Georgian Dream to hold massive campaign rally

Georgian Dream is planning to launch its election campaign with a large-scale rally, potentially coinciding with Georgian Independence Day on May 26.

The coalition has asked Tbilisi City Hall for use of one of two high-capacity stadiums for the event – either Mikheil Meskhi Statium (25 000 seats) or Boris Paichadze Stadium (55 000 seats) for Mary 26 or 27.

According to their spokesperson, Maia Panjikidze, several activities have been planned, but the exact format has yet to be determined. “It is important [to know] when and which stadium will be used for the event," she said.

As Republican Party representative of Georgian Dream, Tina Khidasheli remarked, similar rallies are typical for election campaigns and theirs has no connection to the general concept of rallies or protests and the “manifestation phobia” in Georgia.

The event still needs to be approved by the Tbilisi Mayor's Office. According to head of the Mayor's media department Tea Shatirishvili, permission will be granted "based on the law".

Members of the United National Movement (UNM) have again criticized Georgian Dream, accusing the coalition of being too close to Russia. National Democrat MP Guram Chakhvadze said olso that "if Georgian Dream achieves success, Georgian independence will be set under a question mark". Others have suggested that a rally will not do enough to attract the number of voters the coalition needs to defeat the UNM in the fall election.

Georgian Dream has reiterated that, if elected, it will not alter Georgia's foreign policy course. Khidasheli noted that on her recent visit to the US, she had to postpone her return home by two days because of the high level of interest there in Georgian Dream. "Nearly 80 meetings were held. We received positive responses for almost all meetings we applied for; we had meetings in the White House, the US State Department, with Senate representatives. They have been interested in what we are suggesting to Georgia and to the world,” she said. She also noted that the American attitude towards the current Georgian leadership is “significantly changed and interest in Georgian Dream is very high".