Accusing the Georgian government of “doing nothing” to challenge Russia’s attempt to “annex” Abkhazia, opposition United National Movement (UNM) party said it will hold a protest rally in Tbilisi center on November 15.

“Because of Russia’s open, brazen and actually de jure annexation attempt of occupied Abkhazia and because the Georgian authorities are doing nothing to push the issue on the international agenda, we have decided to hold a protest rally on the Rustaveli Avenue in the capital city, which will aim at making our voice heard to the Georgian authorities, as well as to the international community that Georgia will never tolerate ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia and will never tolerate occupation and annexation of Abkhazia by Russia,” MP Zurab Japaridze, executive secretary of UNM, said.

“We call on all the opposition parties, civil society organizations and citizens, who share our concerns about capitulationist policy pursued by the Georgian authorities towards Russia, to join this rally. We are ready to start consultations with everyone over the November 15 protest rally,” he added.

MP Japaridze made the statement while standing alongside other UNM leaders outside the party headquarters in Tbilisi. UNM parliamentary minority leader, Davit Bakradze, was the next speaker, who said that Georgia faces “a huge challenge”, which needs united response from the society.

“I call on all the political forces, those forces which see Georgia’s European future and those who admit that Russia is our bitter past... and each patriot citizen to stand together on November 15 and to show everyone that we stand firmly. We call on you to hold consultations and to get united in order to defend our country from de jure annexation process that is now ongoing in Abkhazia,” MP Bakradze said.