Georgian band Mgzavrebi late last night announced it had canceled its planned performance at the Tbilisi City Hall concert planned for the evening of October 20.
The band canceled its part in the concert which is to celebrate the opening of the new Zgvis Ubani Park on October 20. They suggest in their announcement that everyone should instead go to the march planned by the opposition, a pro-European march that is also set to occur during the evening of October 20.
“Dear fans, the concert is canceled. The future of Georgia is in Europe!” the statement said.
The October 20 march is titled ‘Georgia chooses the European Union.’ The march is being organized by a coalition of non-governmental organizations.
Participants of the march will gather at four locations and start marching towards Freedom Square from 5pm.
• Republic Square
• Heroes Square
• 300 Aragveli Square
• Marjanishvili Square
Mgzavrebi is known for its frequent concerts in Russia. In February 2016, they won the Russian award “Чартова Дюжина” and in 2019, held a concert in a club in Moscow.
Greta Tsitsava, deputy chairwoman of the Georgian Dream party, member of the parliamentary majority, responded to the cancellation of the performance planned for October 20, suggesting that, “like Mgzavrebi did not sleep in Russia in order to perform a good concert there, she and many members of Georgian Dream did not sleep in order to get the visa liberalization of Georgia.”
“You didn’t refuse a concert in Russia, so why refuse to perform at a concert dedicated to a new beautified park in Tbilisi?” she asked the band, adding, “What happened to you is the result of liberal fascism!”
“Now we have a European-level park, and thanks to everyone who turned this destroyed place into a paradise – on October 20, the park in Zgvis Ubani will be opened,” Tsitsava concluded.
Responses to her message appear to be largely pro-opposition.
