President Zourabichvili Joins Tens of Thousands in Rally for Pro-Europe Georgia Ahead of Elections
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, October 21, 2024
On October 20, tens of thousands of Georgians gathered in a massive pro-Europe rally just days before the country's upcoming parliamentary elections, a pivotal moment for Georgia's democracy and its aspiration for European Union membership. The rally, held at Freedom Square in Tbilisi, saw the participation of President Salome Zourabichvili, who delivered a speech to the crowd.
In her remarks, Zourabichvili reflected on the significance of the day, noting a personal milestone: the birth of her grandson, Gabriel. "Today is one of those days in the history of Georgia that will be memorable for our children and grandchildren," she said. She described the birth as a symbolic sign of a new future for Georgia. "A new Georgia is coming. The Georgia that stands before me today is free Georgia."
The president emphasized that the rally was a voluntary gathering, with no pressure or coercion involved. "Nobody came here by force. No one has come because they were told that 'if not, you will lose your job'; None of the students came because they were told that 'if you don't, you won't get a scholarship'," she asserted, highlighting the genuine desire of Georgians to embrace their European future.
Zourabichvili spoke of Georgia's long-standing connection to freedom, contrasting today's Georgia with the one that was once under Soviet control. She invoked the memory of Georgia's ancestors and its rich history of fighting for independence, affirming that "the free Georgia of our ancestors and our honorable history" would enter Europe together with today's Georgia.
Addressing Georgia's international allies, the president conveyed a message of unity, speaking directly to European and American partners, as well as to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. "We will enter Europe together," she stated.
