Foreign Policy has recently published an article titled ‘Georgia Threatens to Sue Its Own President Over Her Support for Ukraine,’ written by journalist Will Cathcart.
The article reads that since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Georgia has been a “house divided.”
“That very day, thousands of Georgians gathered in front of the Parliament in Tbilisi to show support and solidarity for Ukraine. They returned night after night to protest the unprovoked Russian invasion and the deliberate slaughter of Ukrainian civilians; the 2008 Russian invasion of their own country remains fresh in the minds of Georgians,” notes the author.
“But the Georgian government, unlike most European countries, has been hesitant to offer much support to Ukraine, drawing the ire of protesters. When Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili refused to join in sanctions against Russia, the Ukraine solidarity rallies became anti-government protests calling for his resignation. When he blocked a plane transporting 60 Georgian volunteer soldiers to Ukraine and claimed that sanctions against Russia would be ineffective, condemnation of the Georgian government became almost synonymous with solidarity with Ukraine,” reads the article.
The author touches upon the recent political developments around President Salome Zurabishvili’s statement in Parliament, who expressed dissatisfaction with the government and noted she had been refused the chance to visit Paris, Brussels, Berlin, and Warsaw, instead having to use personal contacts and to carry out “unofficial” visits.
“The restrictions imposed on the President’s international activities are incomprehensible when the need is greatest and time is running out. On February 26, I was refused in writing to pay working visits to Paris, Brussels, Berlin and Warsaw. Despite the current situation, I had to cancel all official formats and found it necessary to use my personal contacts and turn working visits into personal meetings. I think this approach and such restrictions are harmful to our country, it being in such a difficult region,” Zurabishvili said.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream, responded to Zurabishvili’s statement by saying that if the Georgian president had truly visited Europe in such a way, it meant she had violated the country’s constitution and, as such, the Georgian government would be appealing to the Constitutional Court against her.
By Ana Dumbadze
Source: FP
