In a powerful and emotionally charged address during a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko expressed solidarity with the people of Georgia as they take to the streets once again in defense of democracy.

“Quicker than many think, Georgia will be free,” Goncharenko declared. “And we will meet on Rustaveli with Nana, with Eka, with Givi, and Giorgi, with Ia. We will eat Khevsuretian khinkali, we will eat Adjarian khachapuri. We will eat mchadi. We will drink Saperavi from Kakheti.”

He drew a stark parallel between the current wave of demonstrations in Tbilisi and the tragic events of April 9, 1989, when Soviet forces attacked peaceful protesters demanding independence, killing 20 people—mostly women—on Rustaveli Avenue.

“April 1989, spring, trees are blossoming, beautiful Tbilisi… Georgians are standing near the Parliament with Georgian flags, fighting for freedom,” he recalled. “At 4:00 AM, Moscow gave the order to attack… Russian soldiers with military shovels attacked civilians.”

Goncharenko emphasized that history is repeating itself—this time, he said, not through Russian soldiers, but through "Moscow puppets," referring to Georgian political figures Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze. “Georgians are on the streets… They want democracy. They want a free Georgia.”

In a message of hope and resilience, Goncharenko assured Georgians that change is coming: “It is the darkest moment just before sunrise… Like in 1989, when no one believed the Soviet Union would collapse so soon, the same will happen now—quicker than many think.”

Looking ahead, he painted a vivid picture of a future Georgia fully integrated into Europe: “We will celebrate that Tbilisi is one of the capitals of the European Union… This day will come. I know this for sure, and this day we’ll remember all the fighters and we’ll be singing ‘Suliko’ together.”

He closed his speech with a resounding call: “Glory to Georgia!”