Zourabichvili Criticizes Georgian Dream's Election Campaign in Paris
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, September 30, 2024
During her speech at the French National Assembly, President Salome Zourabichvili strongly criticized the ruling party, Georgian Dream, and its founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili. She accused the party of exploiting the ongoing war in Ukraine for its electoral gain, emphasizing that such tactics damage Georgia's relationships with its allies and go against the country's values.
"The government, which is in power today in Georgia, considered that it was a good idea for the election campaign to put up banners in the streets of Tbilisi, on which the theater of Mariupol can be seen side by side, where we know how many children died, and the restored theater in Georgia," Zourabichvili stated.
The President expressed her dismay at this comparison, which also included images of the destroyed cathedral in Ukraine next to the Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. This tactic sparked widespread outrage among the Georgian population. "This caused the indignation of the entire population of Georgia," she remarked, indicating that the public's reaction showed that they are on the right path and can be optimistic about their values.
She pointed out that even supporters of Georgian Dream were upset by the campaign, stating, "Georgian Dream, which I will say once again-turned into a Georgian nightmare." Zourabichvili criticized this approach as being against Georgia's traditions, culture, and humanity, which makes it evident that Georgia shares values with Europe. "It makes us think that we have common values with Europe, and it is because of these values that we have a European destiny," she asserted.
The President went on to accuse Ivanishvili of "practically declaring war on our 30-year-old partners and friends in order to stand by Moscow." She expressed concern over Ivanishvili blaming Georgia's allies-who have played a crucial role in the country's development-for supposedly seeking to create conflict. "As if they wanted to open a second front in Georgia. It was as if Europe and the USA were looking for a new theater of crisis," she stated.
Zourabichvili concluded by pointing out the real aggressor in the region, saying, "The only country in our region that opens new fronts against all its neighbors is and has always been Russia."
