“Today, no one can say how elections will be scheduled. This question is even inconceivable – it will happen through external and internal pressures. There is no country or historical example where a regime completely isolated from its population and partners can continue its governance,” former President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili stated.
As Zourabichvili noted after meeting with accredited ambassadors and opposition representatives in Georgia at her office, the ruling party has adopted only repressive measures and laws following the elections.
“Today, I received ambassadors from our partner countries, along with representatives of parties that were presented in the so-called parliament. From today, their mandates are cancelled. One of the key messages was that political life in Georgia has actually ended because there is no political space. The parliament itself is no longer a political space, the Constitution no longer exists, and neither freedom of expression nor assembly rights are protected. Talking about any potential political life or political formation is unimaginable until elections are held. This was the main message for these ambassadors and their capitals – that as repressions renew today, it is necessary to renew pressure from our partners on Ivanishvili’s regime, this Russian-style regime, to schedule elections.
Today, no one can say how elections will be scheduled – this question is even inconceivable – it will happen through external and internal pressures. There is no country or historical example where a regime completely isolated from its population and partners can continue its governance. Georgia is a small country, not Russia, which can withstand sanctions for a certain, potentially long period. This is impossible here. This regime no longer governs the country – that was the second message.
If we look at the decisions made after the elections, these are exclusively repressive measures and laws. You cannot name a single decision aimed at governing the country or moving it forward.
Foreign policy no longer exists. It’s reduced to giving society some form of recognition, shaking someone’s hand, and presenting this as a kind of acknowledgement. The visits have no substantive content.
The country has no economy, everything has stopped. Investments are completely halted – here we have a presumed policy, a presumed memorandum, allegedly bringing in billions,” Zourabichvili stated.
According to Salome Zourabichvili, partners are impressed by the society’s current spirit.
“This is a country where politics essentially no longer exists, and therefore, anyone asking the opposition, society, or sometimes the president about plans and policies is asking absurd questions. We are in a regime where only struggle is possible. This struggle is unfolding on all fronts. Partners are watching and amazed by society’s determination, how it appears ready to go all the way, not fearing repressive measures. The struggle continues everywhere.
For instance, I can be in Washington yesterday, Munich tomorrow, and then Paris, wherever I can go and ask for a clearer qualification of this regime.
We have many supportive statements regarding society and criticism of the regime’s decisions, but we don’t yet have the qualification that this is already a Russian-style dictatorship – which must be said. There should be a joint demand from us and our partner countries that elections be held. Political action is only one thing: new elections. There is no other way. Our society has understood that this is the only demand that can exist and that our partners might support it.
Additionally, the release of prisoners of conscience must become a daily demand, with pressure mounting from all angles, including on Georgian business, which has yet to grasp that its fate is inextricably linked with the fate of this country, not Russia.
A concerted effort should be made to apply pressure, for instance, on the Georgian Public Broadcaster, which is currently tied to the European Board [allegedly the former president implies the European Broadcasting Union]. There should also be pressure from there to stop this internal repression, which has now permeated practically all government agencies.
As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I want to emphasize that what has been announced is completely unacceptable. There is a real possibility that these repressive measures and dismissals may extend to the Ministry of Defence as well. This agency is the bedrock of our country, and it cannot be politicized in any way. I want to address the military forces and reassure them that until the very end, I will stand by their side, providing them with all the means and the right to defend this country as an independent, sovereign Georgia,” said Zourabichvili.
