Pro-EU former president Salome Zourabichvili remains defiant amidst political turmoil in Georgia. She has made it clear she will not step down and over the weekend joined thousands of demonstrators across the country forming human chains to oppose the inauguration of Georgia’s new president.
On Sunday, Zourabichvili announced her intention to leave the presidential palace but maintained her stance that the newly installed presidency lacks legitimacy. “This building held symbolic importance only when it was occupied by a legitimate president,” she stated.
Last week, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze issued a stark warning, threatening Zourabichvili with imprisonment if she refused to relinquish her position. However, during a podcast appearance on Friday, Zourabichvili reiterated her position: “This election, and therefore the inauguration of the president, is not lawful. I remain president and will continue my duties — the public must understand that.”
The presidential election that has fueled these tensions was contentious from the outset. Mikheil Kavelashvili, the sole candidate, was selected through an electoral college heavily controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has faced growing criticism for its increasingly authoritarian tendencies. Opposition groups abstained from both fielding a candidate and participating in the election, citing allegations that the entire process was fundamentally flawed and rigged.
Since the election in October, protests have erupted nationwide, intensifying after the Georgian government controversially decided to halt its effort to negotiate EU membership — a move that has further alienated many citizens. The backlash has escalated significantly in recent weeks, reflecting deep divisions within the country over its political future.
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