At a briefing today, President Salome Zurabishvili urged Georgians to unite on May 9—Europe Day—as a stand against the ongoing Russification of the country.
“We must come together on May 9, which is not only Europe Day but also a moment to push back against the Russification we see in our streets, shops, and restaurants,” she said. “Russians are living comfortably here while Georgian citizens struggle. We must confront this trend with a clear European choice—through visa liberalization and democratic values. If that’s ever threatened, we will fight to reclaim it.”
Zurabishvili also announced that a joint decision was made to “take ownership” of May 26, Georgia’s Independence Day.
“May 26 belongs to all of us—political parties, civil society, businesses, artists, every citizen. It’s a symbol of our independence, and today, that independence needs defending more than ever. We will stand together on May 9 and again on May 26 to protect our country.”
Speaking about the Resistance Platform meeting, she highlighted growing concerns: “We discussed the grim state of the country—attacks on young women, the case of a prisoner found with 30 injuries. We can no longer trust our justice system. Reclaiming independent state institutions, especially the judiciary, is an urgent national priority.”
