President Salome Zourabichvili calls the Georgian authorities “illegitimate”

Salome Zourabichvili was inaugurated as Georgia’s first feminine president in 2018. While her position as head of state could also be largely ceremonial, her private politics should not. She is staunchly pro-Western, sees Georgia’s future as a part of the European Union and is keen to see her nation escape of Russia’s orbit. This has put it in direct battle with the Georgian Dream, the pro-Russian populist social gathering that has led Georgia’s majority authorities since 2016.

Zourabichvili has publicly criticized among the social gathering’s most controversial items of laws, refused to cross others into legislation, and now calls their authorities “illegitimate” after a disputed October election.

European observers say on election day October 26 they witnessed instances of voter intimidation and corruption on the polls, and the opposition, which subsequently boycotted parliament, claims Russia meddled within the electoral course of to make sure the victory of the Georgian dream favorable to Moscow.

The EU criticized the trial and known as for a repeat. In response, Georgian Dream stated it will droop membership talks till a minimum of 2028.

That determination sparked a wave of unrest throughout the nation that Zourabichvili considers unprecedented. In an interview with Euronews, he explains higher what is occurring now and, above all, what’s going to occur subsequent.

Do you suppose the present Georgian authorities is authentic?

Clearly not. Because the elections that led to this Parliament and the federal government should not authentic. They should not acknowledged by anybody. First of all, they weren’t acknowledged by the Georgian inhabitants. They weren’t acknowledged by the nation’s political forces, as a result of no opposition social gathering acknowledged them as winners of those partially rigged elections and nobody entered Parliament. Therefore it’s an illegitimate social gathering and parliament.

Perhaps much more importantly, our Western democratic companions have, till now, not acknowledged them and it has been greater than a month. The European Parliament has stated that these elections have been neither free nor truthful and is asking for brand spanking new elections as we’re calling for right here: new elections.

The newest, very provocative determination of this unlawful and illegitimate authorities to show its again on the European Union and switch its entrance in the direction of Russia has sparked an immense protest motion within the nation that doesn’t cease. Every day there are extra folks on the streets. And, much more importantly, actual dissent is rising within the nation. In state establishments, the place folks resign, protest or signal petitions, relying on which establishment we’re speaking about.

But mainly, your complete public service of the nation is falling aside as a result of folks don’t settle for the illegitimate authorities’s determination to take an illegitimate course for this nation. The solely ones who acknowledge them, approve them and congratulate them are Russian President Putin and the Russian parliament.

What do you suppose the European Union can do for Georgia proper now?

The sign of non-recognition of those elections is essential. The European Parliament decision is extraordinarily necessary. I do know there’s a 27 member assertion being ready on this case. There are measures in preparation. What we’d like is powerful help for brand spanking new elections. We should not making ready for a revolution. We are making ready the transition to new elections, as a result of that is the secure approach for this nation to maneuver ahead and return to the European path. This is what individuals are asking for on the streets.

They ask for 2 issues: they wish to protect their European future and so they need new elections to have a secure and legit authorities on this nation. They are the one unbiased establishment left within the nation that isn’t ruled by one social gathering and one man. And I’m additionally the president appointed by the Constitution: the president till a brand new president is put in. And because the new president should be elected by a parliament and the parliament is illegitimate, the brand new president-elect or so-called elect can’t be inaugurated. And my mandate, subsequently, stays legitimate.

So we’re in a transition interval. It is essential that this transition could be very secure. The folks round me, from civil society and political events, are attempting with our European companions and with our American companions. Trying to drive this very secure transition.

I additionally know that as we speak there’s a assertion from the United States. Which are intensifying the strategic partnership with Georgia. This can also be a really robust sign. And that is what the Georgian inhabitants is actually not prepared to simply accept. And that is what they’re exhibiting on the streets in a really peaceable approach.

And what’s essential is that, along with what I stated about public service dissent, there’s additionally the truth that each metropolis in Georgia has protests, which to my reminiscence has by no means occurred. Tbilisi has all the time been the middle of the whole lot. Today all cities noticed demonstrations. And it impacts the economic system. The enterprise world, which on this nation has all the time been very loyal to any authorities and any regime, as we speak noticed many giant corporations specific their protest as a result of clearly it’s their accountability to take action. The European inventory change is the one one they wish to see for this nation.

What is the place of the nation’s safety forces and judicial system?

The justice system could be very fascinating, as a result of mainly this is among the foremost issues this nation has with the European Union lately is that we do not have an unbiased justice system.

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I’ve lodged an attraction with the Constitutional Court in opposition to the studying of the elections which for now haven’t even met. But we now have to attempt all ranges. This is the way in which, the constitutional approach of doing issues. And there’s all the time hope. But as a result of it may all the time occur that some members of those excessive courts perceive in some unspecified time in the future that the soundness of the nation and the future of the nation is of their arms.

So we now have to attempt to put strain on them for the safety forces and say that the police are on the facet of the residents as a result of they’re regular police who’ve been educated and the blacks serve their masters. And “robocops” are a state software that may go the place the state goes. Here’s what we have to have a look at.

Then there’s the military which could be very silent and should stay silent, however is clearly on the facet of the pro-Western forces as a result of they’ve been educated, educated and outfitted over the past a long time. And subsequently along with the Americans and European companions in worldwide missions overseas. So it is vitally clear that they undergo quite a bit when they’re advised that all of a sudden their associates are now not their associates.

There are some parallels with what is occurring now in Georgia and with the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine 11 years in the past. Do you see any connections?

I feel it’s extremely completely different as a result of Georgians should not Ukrainians. We have many issues in frequent as a result of we essentially face the identical enemy. But issues are very completely different as a result of the Georgian character could be very completely different and the dissolution of state establishments that we’re seeing now, together with the church the place we hear dissenting voices, which is exceptional, is one thing very particular. Even in Georgia we now have not seen this earlier than.

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So we’re confronted with one thing very new and we’re a part of one thing very new that can also be occurring on a geopolitical stage, I’d say, the place Russia has not received simply over Ukraine within the final two and a half years and is now making an attempt to beat the European Union with electoral battle. I’d say it is an electoral battle. They have waged this election battle in Georgia and we’re combating it via constitutional means.

In Romania they’re combating the identical electoral battle. And they floated to Moldova, solely Moldova was saved by the diaspora. And in our case we weren’t allowed to make use of our votes just for our members, who’re quite a few. So it is a Russian technique. And it is vitally necessary that the European Union understands that it’s a technique, a hybrid technique to beat nations that don’t wish to go in the direction of Russia via these maybe extra discreet routes. But clearly in Georgia, the place we now have a protracted historical past of Russia making an attempt to take over the nation and the place we now have been very resilient, we will likely be resilient and we are going to be certain that we prevail. The will of the folks.

So you are saying Romania is a extra comparable case?

But comparable as a result of they’re completely different tips and programs. And that is what demonstrates the systemic method which could be very tailored to every nation. But the sudden emergence of those pro-Russian leaders, which nobody anticipated, must be one thing that our European companions ought to take into consideration, as a result of that is how Russia is making an attempt to take care of a few of its affect. But we see that Russia can also be dropping in a number of locations, comparable to in Syria.