At a mass rally on Freedom Square, Paata Burchuladze, founder of the Rustaveli Avenue movement, read out a declaration that he described as the first “national assembly” in Georgia’s history. Addressing the crowd, Burchuladze called the day “historic” and urged citizens to reclaim power from what he described as Bidzina Ivanishvili’s usurped rule.
“We have today a historic and perhaps final chance to take back our country. Ivanishvili has brought Georgia to a state where it must be saved. I am glad to see so many passionate people gathered here. Today we must decide this country’s fate—there is no tomorrow. We did not come for clashes; I came here with my grandchildren. But today we cannot lose—today we must win. This is not just a rally. For the first time in Georgia’s history, this is a national assembly uniting the entire country,” Burchuladze declared before reading the text of the resolution.
The declaration of the October 4 National Assembly states:
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“Power entirely belongs to the Georgian people.”
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The so-called authorities, after the “fraudulent and internationally unrecognized elections of October 26,” have “lost legitimacy,” and their power is terminated.
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A peaceful transitional period is announced to ensure power is transferred to the people, democratic institutions are freed, dialogue with the EU on membership resumes immediately, and the country’s peace and security are safeguarded.
Burchuladze emphasized that once the declaration was adopted, “power belongs to us and not to Bidzina Ivanishvili.”
Later in his speech, Burchuladze went further, declaring that from this moment the Interior Ministry “must obey the Georgian people, not Ivanishvili.” He demanded the immediate detention of six Georgian Dream leaders, whom he called the “main wrongdoers” responsible for the country’s crisis.
He listed them as:
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Irakli Kobakhidze
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Shalva Papuashvili
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Anzor Chubinidze
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Mamuka Mdinaradze
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Tea Tsulukiani
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Bidzina Ivanishvili
“We must demand their urgent arrest and imprisonment. Those who protect them—including their personal security and Interior Ministry officers—will also be held accountable,” Burchuladze told the crowd.
