**Georgian President Urges Citizens to Stay Strong and United**
In an interview with Mtavari TV, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called on citizens not to give up hope in the face of a “stolen election” and instead believe in themselves. She emphasized that the country‘s independence was achieved through the efforts of emigrants who always had hope for a better future.
**Resistance Against Authoritarianism**
President Zurabishvili stressed that it’s not easy to change a government with authoritarian tendencies, but said it’s essential not to come to terms with the current situation. She noted that the international community has not recognized the Georgian Dream’s victory and there are no congratulatory messages from most countries.
**Future Steps and Opposition Plans**
Regarding future steps, President Zurabishvili commented on the opposition’s plans to renounce MP mandates and revoke proportional lists. She predicted that the opposition will not enter Parliament and likened the present situation to 2020, which was a different scenario altogether.
**Isolation of Georgian Dream Government**
President Zurabishvili warned that the first sign of isolation for the Georgian Dream government will be a financial and economic crisis in the country. She noted that Georgia has sold a large part of its national reserves and is not a big country like Russia, which can stand alone.
**Western Position on Georgia**
The President stated that Western countries won’t take away everything that has been achieved in Georgia’s development. She predicted that the West will show indifference and no longer be involved in Georgian processes, leading to further economic and financial crisis.
**EU Sanctions and Personal Accountability**
President Zurabishvili expressed little faith in EU sanctions, saying they could have restrictions on aid that Georgia’s budget and programs rely heavily on. She noted that personal sanctions are more difficult for the EU, which relies on consensus among 27 countries.
**Understanding the Situation**
The President explained that the Georgian Dream government had prepared a “Russian scenario” before the election, aiming to create a distraction and exhaust people. She said this move was made to prevent large-scale protests against electoral rigging.
**Hope for the Future**
Despite the political crisis, President Zurabishvili remains hopeful, believing that everything will happen as it should, including new elections, a technical government, and a coalition.
**Call to Action**
Finally, she called on judges of the Constitutional Court to join their colleagues who didn’t find her guilty of violating the Constitution last year. She urged them to “save the stability, democracy, and European future of this country”.