**Georgian President Addresses Protesters**
On a busy street in Tbilisi, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke to protesters and the nation. She stood in front of an old school building, where statues of two important figures from Georgia’s past, Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli, looked on.
President Zurabishvili said she was staying in office and called on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the opposition party Georgian Dream, to come to her residence to discuss a new election date. She insisted that the new elections should take place before December 29.
**Technical Issues**
The live feed of President Zurabishvili’s speech was interrupted several times due to technical problems. Some people thought it might have been done on purpose. This is what she said during her address:
“We are here today in a special location, where my father studied. Behind me, Ilia and Akaki are watching over the new Georgia that you have created. Tomorrow, we will be a strong, European country, and no one can stop us.”
President Zurabishvili also mentioned the death of Antsukhelidze, a Georgian soldier who was tortured and killed by Russian forces in 2008.
**Demand for New Elections**
Before President Zurabishvili spoke, people sang the Georgian and European anthems. They were protesting against the decision to stop Georgia’s EU accession process. The protests have been going on for 25 days, despite police violence and repression.
President Zurabishvili said she was willing to negotiate with Bidzina Ivanishvili and find a solution. She will give another speech tonight from her residence.
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