Tbilisi Protests Escalate as President Zurabishvili Defies Government's Push Toward Russia
In Tbilisi, Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili joined thousands of demonstrators in a significant pro-West rally, opposing the government led by the Georgian Dream party. The protest, which took place on December 28, coincides with a delicate political climate in the South Caucasus nation, as Zurabishvili refuses to relinquish her position after her term ends on December 29. She contests the legitimacy of her successor, chosen by an electoral college that is heavily influenced by the Georgian Dream party.
Demonstrators waved flags of Georgia and the European Union, marching along the Saarbruecken Bridge, signifying a collective call for unity against the current government's perceived shift towards Russia. This rally marks one month since the emergence of widespread anti-government protests that have resulted in violent police actions, injuries, and numerous arrests.
Concerns have mounted over the Georgian Dream party's direction, with many citizens accusing it of steering the nation away from the EU's embrace while gravitating closer to Moscow. This political crisis deepened after the party claimed victory in parliamentary elections held in October, which the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized for being fraught with issues such as vote-buying, double voting, and intimidation.
Tensions intensified following the government’s recent decision to delay negotiations regarding Georgia’s EU membership. Human Rights Watch has urged investigations into police brutality against protesters, who have largely remained peaceful throughout their demonstrations.
The situation worsened for the Georgian Dream when the United States imposed fresh sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire with ties to Russia, for undermining Georgian democracy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted that under Ivanishvili’s leadership, the party has worked against Georgia's Euro-Atlantic prospects, contradicting the wishes expressed in the country’s Constitution.
In the backdrop of these developments, Zurabishvili has distanced herself from the government. On December 22, she called for new parliamentary elections to be scheduled before her term officially ends on December 29. US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson expressed support for Zurabishvili, referring to her as the only legitimate leader in Georgia, and highlighted the courage she has shown amid the political turmoil.
Adding to the complexities, an electoral college appointed Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player and right-wing populist, as the next president of Georgia. He is expected to be inaugurated on December 29, yet the 72-year-old Zurabishvili has declared her intention to remain in office, setting the stage for a potential confrontation in the near future.
Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, relations with Brussels have soured, particularly after the controversial foreign agent law was enacted in May, a move that many believe to be a sign of the government’s pro-Kremlin tendencies. As protests continue, the citizens of Georgia are left at a crossroads, grappling with their country's future and its allegiance in the shadow of influence from both the West and Russia.
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