President Addresses Protesters on Rustaveli Avenue
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke to protesters and the nation from a historic location on Rustaveli avenue. She stood in front of the First Georgian Gymnasium, where famous Georgian writers Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli are honored.
Zurabishvili addressed the crowd and reaffirmed her commitment to office. She called on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the opposition party Georgian Dream, to come to the Presidential residence and negotiate a new election date before December 29.
The president’s speech was interrupted several times due to technical issues, with some suspecting that the audio was being jammed.
“We are here today in a special place,” Zurabishvili said. “My father studied here. Behind me, Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli look down on the new Georgia that has been born through you. Tomorrow, we will have a strong and European Georgia, and no one can stop it.”
Zurabishvili also referred to the protesters’ peaceful nature, saying there was only “love” and “peace” among them. She called on Ivanishvili to meet with her at the Presidential residence to negotiate the new election date.
Before Zurabishvili’s speech, the Georgian and European anthems were played and sung by protesters demanding the restoration of Georgia’s democratic and European trajectory. The protests have been ongoing for 25 days despite violent police dispersals and repression.
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