TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili, says Georgia has a government which is ashamed of conducting an independence day parade and this way gives up the key to its independence.

Georgia marks its independence day on May 26. Saakashvili’s government used to mark this day with a military parade through the center of Tbilisi. Many were dissatisfied by this, especially after what happened on the night of May 26 2011, when a peaceful anti-government rally was brutally dispersed by the police on Rustaveli Avenue. Tens of people were injured and at least four died. Two died on the spot, while two corpses were discovered close to the old parliament building the next day.

Numerous question remain unanswered as many of the government’s forces were not part of the police nor the military, but seemed to be members of a secret vigilante force that had been observed putting down civil unrest in the weeks prior to May 26.

In 2012, the military parade was conducted in Kutaisi in front of the new parliament building.

A few days ago Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said that Independence Day this year will be marked in a different way.

President Mikheil Saakashvili said that such a decision means giving a trump card to the occupants.

Today we have a government which is ashamed to conduct a parade of independence and openly declares it, he said adding that the government is violating the image of Georgia’s armed forces.