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Addressing the crowd, President Zurabishvili summons Ivanishvili to negotiate new elections – Civil Georgia

Addressing the crowd, President Zurabishvili summons Ivanishvili to negotiate new elections – Civil Georgia

On a crowded Rustaveli Avenue, President Salomé Zourabichvili addressed the protesters and the nation. Zurabishvili spoke in front of Georgia’s first gymnasium, adorned with statues of Ilia Chavhavadze and Akaki Tsereteli, two pillars of Georgia’s national awakening in the 19th century. Asserting that she remains in office, she called on Bidzina Ivanishvili to go to the presidential residence and negotiate the new election date before December 29.

The audio and live stream was interrupted several times due to technical issues. Some suspect interference. Here is what the president said:

We are here today in a symbolic place, in this school where my father studied. Behind me, Ilia (Chavchavadze) and Akaki (Tsereteli) look down on the new Georgia that has already been born through you. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, it will be a strong Georgia, very European, and no one will be able to stop it. It’s true that there are about 300 of you here (a sarcastic reference to Kobakhidze’s claims that only a few hundred people are attending the ongoing protests), it’s true that they took our stage and our microphones and promised to put me behind bars, but we are not afraid.

We are not afraid that there is only love here. Those who say that some kind of confrontation has arisen here, they are lying, there is only peace, love and freedom reigning here. Among the many marches coming today was the March of Antsukhelidze (army veterans), and we all have a duty to him (Antsukhelidze, a Georgian serviceman was tortured and killed by the forces occupation in 2008, following his refusal to spit on the ground). flag. The murder was filmed – ed.). I also have a duty to him, we all have a duty to him, who gave his life for this new Georgia. Alongside him, many heroes from our past contributed to our being here, to Georgia being alive. But Georgia never gives in when she’s right. It’s now. And you’re right too.

I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, what I’m going to do. I remain faithful to the Constitution on which I took the oath six years ago. Even if the Georgian dream has been trampled underfoot, it remains the same as Georgia. I can only remain faithful to him. I will remain loyal to the veterans of the Georgian army who are marching today and defending Georgia; to the army, an army which remains faithful to the partners who supported, equipped and reinforced it. I am and will remain its Commander-in-Chief. I will remain loyal to the people who are here. And not just to the people who are here. Let no one think that I am not everyone’s president. I am the president of all Georgians and therefore I will remain.

Whoever wants things to end well in this country, let him come to the (Orbeliani presidential) Palace. I call (Bidzina) Ivanishvili to come to the palace tomorrow, because he rules everything. I am ready to sit down and negotiate how the election should be held. But the date of the new elections must be decided before 29 (December). We all have a great chance to move this country forward, to set an example of democracy, reconciliation and progress for the whole world. I’m waiting for a response. I will be doing a full recorded address tomorrow evening from the residence, as they appear to be stealing not only our scene (referring to the reporting of the scene earlier today, allegedly by the police), but also my voice (referring to the jamming ).

Before Zurabishvili’s appearance, Georgian and European anthems were played and sung by Georgians gathered to demand the restoration of the country’s democratic and European trajectory. Mass protests against the Georgian Dream’s decision to suspend EU membership demonstrations have continued for 25 days, despite violent police dispersals and repression.

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