The Georgian government has once again come under harsh criticism from the West. This is the joint statement by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, published on Monday, May 26, on the occasion of Georgia's Independence Day.

In the statement, the European leaders strongly condemned "all actions by the Georgian authorities that lead to a rollback of democracy and attacks on civil society, the media and critics of the government." They also supported Georgia's territorial integrity and expressed solidarity with its people.

"We support the democratic and European aspirations of the Georgian people. These aspirations reflect the desire to be part of the European family," the statement said.

In the meantime, Georgia is celebrating Independence Day today, with the government and the opposition having different celebration programs. Amid ongoing protests, the government moved the celebration from Rustaveli Avenue. The events were decided to be held on Freedom Square, in the Alexander Garden, on Orbeliani Street and adjacent areas.

An alternative program was organized by various political parties and public movements. The leader of the "Resistance Platform", the fifth President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, plans to speak in the evening on Rustaveli Avenue, where six marches from different points of the city will end. The ruling party, in turn, accuses the opposition and civil activists of trying to provoke during the celebration and sow discord in society.