President Saakashvili has declared Friday, October 7 as public holiday only in the capital city Tbilisi.

The official reason of the decision cites Tbilisoba – a Soviet-old festivity dedicated to the capital city, which usually is marked in the last weekend of October, but this year will start on Friday evening and last till Sunday, October 9.

Also on October 7 French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who will be in Tbilisi as part of his South Caucasus trip, will make an outdoor public speech on the Freedom Square.