Zourabichvili Calls on European Leaders to Address Georgia's Crisis at EU Summit
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, March 21, 2025
Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, has sent a joint letter to European leaders, urging them not to overlook Georgia during the March 20-21 European Council meeting. The letter, prepared in coordination with opposition parties and civil society, describes the Georgian Dream (GD) government as a "Russian-inspired regime" that is dismantling democratic institutions, threatening the country's sovereignty, and jeopardizing its European future. It calls for new elections and urges European and U.S. high-level mediation between the pro-European opposition and the ruling authorities.
In a televised address on March 19, Zourabichvili explained her decision to send the letter, emphasizing the urgency of Georgia's situation. While acknowledging that Ukraine and European security remain key priorities for the European Council, she insisted that Georgia must not be ignored.
"The daily strengthening, or at least expansion, of the repressive regime in Georgia acts in the direction of canceling Georgia's freedom, independence, and Europeanness," Zourabichvili said. "The Georgian issue cannot be ignored and should be on the agenda of the EU leaders' meeting."
She argued that Georgia's political crisis is not an isolated issue but part of a broader challenge facing Europe, warning that the country is "an object of hybrid aggression." She also stressed that Georgia's security is directly linked to the stability of the Black Sea region.
"The European leaders must understand that Georgia's issue can't be left out when discussing the Black Sea region since the country has a direct interest in strengthening security and cooperation in the Black Sea," she said.
The letter warns that GD authorities are dismantling institutions and violating fundamental rights that were built over the past two decades with European support. Zourabichvili writes that a "Russia-supported dictator" should not be allowed to "defy European and American partners" or turn a "determined pro-European population into a Russian satellite."
It describes recent developments - alleged election fraud and GD's decision to stall EU accession efforts - as "nothing else but the attempt by Russia to test an alternative hybrid instrument to reestablish domination over a sovereign independent pro-European country." The letter suggests that Russia, having failed to achieve its goals in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, has now shifted to a "less costly hybrid approach" aimed at eroding Georgia's independence without direct military intervention.
"Such a new pattern should concern each and every one, not only those of you that are closest to Russian borders," the letter warns.
Zourabichvili also argues that Georgia's fate is directly tied to that of Ukraine. "The fate of Georgia cannot be delinked from that of Ukraine, nor the discussions about peace in Ukraine ignore Georgia," she writes. The letter raises concerns about GD's plans to involve China in the Anaklia port project and Russia's reported intentions to establish a military base in Ochamchire, stating: "Losing Georgia is equal to handling this region to Russia's dominance, which doesn't define neither a stronger Europe nor a stronger America."
Describing Georgia as being "in deep crisis", Zourabichvili says the country has seen "four months of relentless protest", yet GD authorities refuse to engage in dialogue with pro-European forces and instead "add repressions to repressions." She asserts that "the only peaceful way out of such a dead end is new elections."
The letter calls for "European (and eventually American) high-level mediation" to resolve the crisis and warns that Europe must take responsibility as the U.S. shifts its foreign policy priorities.
"We firmly support the call for a 'Voice of Europe' to take the succession in the fight for freedom and promote European values," the letter states, referencing the Trump administration's decision to cut funding for U.S. foreign broadcasters Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Zourabichvili concludes the letter by urging European leaders to include Georgia on the agenda for the next European Council meeting in June and offers to testify before the European Parliament on the country's ongoing political crisis.
