• ABOUT US
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Advertising
    • Subscription
  • CONTACT US
Georgia Today
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Georgia Today
No Result
View All Result

Zurabishvili: Georgia moving toward Russian, Belarusian model

by Mariam Razmadze
April 1, 2025
in News, Politics
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Zurabishvili: Georgia moving toward Russian, Belarusian model

Photo: Caucasus Watch.

Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, has heavily criticized the country’s current political direction, saying that the government is following a model similar to that of Russia and Belarus. Speaking before the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Zurabishvili argued that Georgia’s institutions have lost their independence, and the ruling party is consolidating power at an alarming pace.

“This is complete state capture,” Zurabishvili declared, emphasizing that “not a single independent institution remains in the country.” According to her, the judiciary, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and even the central bank have fallen under the control of a single political force. She pointed out that the National Communications Commission, which regulates the media, is also under government influence.

Zurabishvili associated this shift with what she called a coordinated effort to tighten state control.  “Just today, Parliament passed three laws without any real debate. They rushed through three committee stages in three days,” she stated. 

Zurabishvili linked this shift to the rapid passage of controversial laws in Parliament, which she described as a coordinated effort to tighten state control. “Just today, Parliament passed three laws without any real debate. They rushed through three committee stages in three days,” she stated. The measures include:

  • A ‘foreign influence’ law modeled after similar regulations in authoritarian states, which expands government control over NGOs.
  • A revision of the treason law, reviving a Soviet-era provision that could be used to target political opponents.
  • New media restrictions, imposing tighter financial and content controls on broadcasters and other outlets.

Zurabishvili argued that these legislative changes, combined with restrictions on public sector employees participating in educational activities, imply that “Parliament and government are executing a playbook that is not written in Georgia.”

Apart from domestic policies, Zurabishvili also addressed Georgia’s changing geopolitical situation, mentioning that the Kremlin has increasingly approved the country’s leadership in recent years. She attributed this to a shift in Georgian Dream’s political direction, saying that while the party initially upheld Georgia’s pro-European aspirations, its stance began shifting around 2021.

“At first, they followed their program and upheld Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic course,” she explained. “In 2018, they even enshrined European integration as a national priority in the Constitution. But after 2021, we saw power consolidation, media crackdowns, and judicial interference.” She linked this shift to the war in Ukraine, when the government distanced itself from Western sanctions and began adopting more overtly anti-European rhetoric.

When asked about possible reasons behind this transformation, Zurabishvili suggested that Georgian Dream’s pro-European stance may have only been superficial. “Perhaps it was convenient as long as there were no major challenges. But as soon as pressures emerged, Russia exerted influence over individuals it has leverage on—Bidzina Ivanishvili being one of them,” she stated.

 

Tags: Georgia's political modelGeorgian DreamSalome ZurabishviliUK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
ShareShareTweet

Related Posts

Trump declares US airstrikes “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities
Highlights

Trump declares US airstrikes “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities

June 22, 2025
Iran warns U.S. has ‘crossed a red line’ after strikes on nuclear sites
International

Iran warns U.S. has ‘crossed a red line’ after strikes on nuclear sites

June 22, 2025
Prof. Michael Clarke on Putin’s Endgame: Break NATO, Dominate Europe, Cement His Legacy
Editor's Pick

Prof. Michael Clarke on Putin’s Endgame: Break NATO, Dominate Europe, Cement His Legacy

June 22, 2025

Recommended

Putin, Xi, and allied leaders mark Russia’s Victory Day at Moscow parade

Putin, Xi, and allied leaders mark Russia’s Victory Day at Moscow parade

1 month ago
Experience Seamless Connectivity with Silknet eSIM in Georgia

Experience Seamless Connectivity with Silknet eSIM in Georgia

12 months ago
Champion Karateka Luka Khvedeliani on the Benefits of Georgian Karate for Georgia’s Youth

Georgia to Celebrate First Europe Day with European Union Candidate Status

1 year ago
Georgian Foreign Minister Holds Farewell Meeting with French Ambassador to Georgia

Georgian Foreign Minister Holds Farewell Meeting with French Ambassador to Georgia

3 years ago
Natia Mezvrishvili on Dealing with 2 Political Giants

Natia Mezvrishvili on Dealing with 2 Political Giants

3 years ago
Giorgi Gakharia: We were Told We Were Capable of Nothing – It’s All a Lie and Ukraine is a Great Example of This

Giorgi Gakharia: We were Told We Were Capable of Nothing – It’s All a Lie and Ukraine is a Great Example of This

3 years ago
GT Interview with Giorgi Badridze

GT Interview with Giorgi Badridze

3 years ago
Russo-Ukrainian War and Georgia – Analysis from security expert Kakha Kemoklidze

Russo-Ukrainian War and Georgia – Analysis from security expert Kakha Kemoklidze

3 years ago

Navigation

  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • International
  • Where.ge
  • Newspaper
  • Magazine
  • GEO
  • OP-ED
  • About Us
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Advertising
    • Subscription
  • Contact

Highlights

Ukraine Latest: Massive Russian Attack Kills 28, Injures 134 in Kyiv

Georgian NGOs Decry ‘Russian-Style’ Data Demands from Gov’t

EU Condemns Georgia’s Media Crackdown, Demands Release of Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli

MEP Kols: I strongly demanded strict sanctions against the regime suffocating democracy in Georgia

EU Parliament urges immediate release of Amaglobeli, Devdze, Japaridze, Melia, Gvaramia & Saakashvili

Economist Khishtovani: Business climate in Georgia continues to deteriorate

Trending

Experience Seamless Connectivity with Silknet eSIM in Georgia
Business & Economy

Experience Seamless Connectivity with Silknet eSIM in Georgia

by Georgia Today
June 26, 2024

Why Silknet's eSIM could be your top choice in Georgia  Since its introduction, eSIM technology has become...

Photo by the author

Virtuosity and Versatility: Marc-André Hamelin Opens Tbilisi Piano Festival 2024

May 30, 2024
  • Where.ge
  • Newspaper
  • GEO
  • Magazine
  • Old Website

2000-2024 © Georgia Today

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • International
  • Where.ge
  • Newspaper
  • Magazine
  • GEO
  • OP-ED
  • About Us
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Advertising
    • Subscription
  • Contact

2000-2024 © Georgia Today