Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke out against the country‘s presidential election scheduled for December 14. She called it “illegitimate” and said it had no connection to any political process.
The president also asked Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze to move a Christmas ceremony planned on Rustaveli Avenue. This is because the area is near the Parliament building where police used tear gas during protests. Some doctors say this might not be safe for small children.
President Zurabishvili suggested moving the Christmas ceremony to December 17. She said anyone who gets hurt if her request is not met will be the mayor’s responsibility.
The president said more and more people are protesting in Georgia and abroad. She added that many civil servants are unhappy with the government. The president said this was why the GD Parliament made a “repressive” change to the law on civil service.
President Zurabishvili stated that the government will fail if it tries to scare people into not protesting for a European future. She repeated her demand for new parliamentary elections as the only way to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The president said she will stay in Georgia and be “the only legitimate institution”.