Saakashvili criticizes refusal to hold military parade on Independence Day
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili considers the government's decision to refuse to hold a military parade on the Independence Day on May 26 "unacceptable".
"Replacing the parade on May 26 with other events is not acceptable, because namely the Armed Forces are a key indicator of our independence," Georgian President said on the occasion of the Day of Georgian Army marked on April 30.
"You have always served freedom, unity and independence of Georgia. In 2008, your courage saved Georgia. I am sorry that this year the government prevented holding the parade for political reasons," the report says.
The president stressed that the parade is an opportunity for the people to thank his army once a year.
Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili, head of the Commission on the organization of the May 26 events, previously said that the military parade is not planned.