Parliamentarians are assembling today in Kuraisi for their first session inside the new parliament building in Kutaisi.

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia celebrates Independence Day today on May 26. The day is a celebration of restoration of independence from the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

May 26 1918, the first Georgia republic was established. The country became independent from the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991, but for historical reasons, independence day is still celebrated on May 26.

A military parade is planned in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city, where a new parliament building is half finished.

What has been completed is the session hall and the entrance, as well as a glass façade, while the other offices and rooms and also a park will be finished by October, when there are planned parliamentary elections.

The first ceremonial session of parliament in the new building will be held today at 17, despite resistance and criticism from legal experts and organizations working with legal issues. They claim that the constitution requires another election to be held before lawmakers can assemble in a new parliament.

After the ceremony, there will be a military parade in front of the building, which will start at 18.

Meanwhile in Tbilisi, a parade of Georgian industry is being held. Various products produced in Georgia will be exhibited on Rustaveli, Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare. The goal is to promote Georgian production, develop the economy, create jobs and strengthen different industry sectors, mayor Gigi Ugulava explained.

About 270 products are exhibited, including furniture, alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, textile, computer technology, construction material, medicines; subway cars, Georgian tea and food.

Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili will today as is customary pardon about 70 prisoners. Among them are five women and one juvenile.