The Russian service of Deutsche Welle published an interview with Salome Zurabishvili, an independent presidential candidate supported by the ruling Georgian Dream Party.

Journalist Zhanna Nemtsova asked Zurabishvili about results of exit-polls released following the October 28 presidential elections. Zurabishvili said that social polls had always been an instrument for manipulation with public opinion. “It is better not to trust them. There is no scientific base behind figures,” Zurabishvili stated.

On the question, if Bidzina Ivanishvili, Chairman of Georgian Dream, controlled her, Zurabishvili answered that she had always been independent even back during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili who supported her when she was Foreign Minister of Georgia. She said in the interview that the ruling team expressed her support after she declared about her plan to run for the presidency as an independent candidate.

Zurabishvili also talked about Georgia-Russia relations when asked if she could change anything with respect to the occupied territories. “Change in Georgian-Russian relations by one side is impossible and not trusting. This depends on both sides.  . . . Much depends on personal initiatives, ideas, and context. We should seek the way out of the current deadlock,” Zurabishvili claimed.

The journalist also became interested if Zurabishvili was going to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in case of winning in the second round of presidential elections since the ‘key to the problem was in his hands.’

“Saying that the key is in Putin’s hand means that there is no key at all.  . . . What we see in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions is lack of Russia’s moves,” Zurabishvili said.

When talking about her poor Georgian language, Zurabishvili said that she had lived in Georgia for the last 16 years but criticism about her speaking in Georgian began 2 months ago. She brought the example of the former president of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga.

“I learned Georgian in the family. I had no contact with Georgians other than emigrants. There were no social networks or television. . . .  Former President of Latvia was also an immigrant. She returned to her country and was elected President. Her language was also poor but she secured membership of Latvia in the European Union and NATO. Therefore, I am ready for criticism if Georgia has the same results,” Zurabishvili said.