Zurabyshvili: "They are standing today, they will be there tomorrow, they will not stand!"
Protests that began in Georgia after the government announced a freeze on negotiations on the country's European integration continue for the 36th day. Demonstrators spent the entire New Year's Eve on Rustaveli Avenue, and today the Georgian Day of Destiny (Bedoba) is being celebrated there. Even on January 1, the action gathered, although it was not announced in advance. Thus, the rallies do not stop for a single day.
The fifth president of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, who celebrated the New Year together with the protesters, wrote on social networks: "Those of you who hoped that after the New Year the protest fervor would subside, you couldn't calculate that either!"
She emphasized that the authorities "could not calculate either America's reaction, the statement of the Weimar Triangle, the congratulations of the French president, or the German sanctions." But if this, in her opinion, can be attributed to ignorance, then "the inability to calculate the character, endurance and attitude towards one's people cannot be forgiven."
"They are standing today, they will be there tomorrow, they will not stand!" - summed up Zurabishvili.
As a reminder, Zurabishvili vacated the presidential palace after the election of the president elected by the "Georgian Dream" on December 29 last year, but she did not surrender her powers. Earlier, she stated that "there is no legitimate parliament, therefore an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president, therefore there can be no inauguration."
"My mandate is valid until a parliament is legally elected, which will legally elect someone in my place. I am with you and I will be with you," said the Georgian president.
And even leaving the residence, she said that she "leaves and takes legitimacy with her."
At this time, the main demands of the protesters remain the holding of new parliamentary elections and the release of all those detained at the rallies. More than 30 people are now in custody, facing serious prison terms under a number of articles of the Criminal Code.
