Prepared by Messenger Staff
Salome Zourabichvili Accuses Ruling Party of Political Repression
Salome Zourabichvili, the 5th President of Georgia, has publicly condemned what she describes as a "new wave" of political repression initiated by the country's ruling party. Speaking at a press briefing, Zourabichvili accused the Georgian Dream-led government of weaponizing a newly established parliamentary investigative commission to target opposition figures rather than uncovering the truth.
"A new wave [of repression] has begun and continues, which concerns politicians," the president said, referring to the recent activation of a temporary investigative commission ostensibly tasked with probing crimes allegedly committed by the former United National Movement (UNM) government.
Zourabichvili questioned the legitimacy and purpose of the commission, arguing that its true intent is punitive. "No one should believe that this commission was created so that some truth, which has not been established for 12 or more years, can now be established," she stated. "It was created to summon politicians, and fine and arrest those who would not come."
The president also voiced support for the opposition's stance, asserting that the parliament, and by extension the investigative commission, lacks legitimacy.
Zourabichvili's remarks followed a court decision just one day earlier, in which a Tbilisi judge ordered pre-trial detention for Irakli Okruashvili, a former Defense Minister and prominent UNM-era figure.
Kobakhidze Defends Withdrawal of Support for UN Tourism Chief Pololikashvili
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended his government's decision to withdraw support for Zurab Pololikashvili, the current Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), saying the move was necessary in defense of national interests.
"Anyone who tries to attack the Georgian authorities should not be surprised when they receive a response," Kobakhidze stated. "You cannot complain about not getting an answer if you have acted against the state."
Kobakhidze declined to elaborate further, noting that Pololikashvili remains in office until the end of the year. However, he emphasized that continued support for Pololikashvili would amount to "a betrayal of the country."
Pololikashvili, who has led the UNWTO since 2018, recently responded to the government's withdrawal of support through a statement to Formula TV, he said he had made repeated efforts to contact the Prime Minister but was met with silence.
"For more than three weeks I've been writing and calling and he's been hiding," Pololikashvili said. "He should come out and say what my candidacy was exchanged for. I represent neither the Deep State nor the Global War party. I am a Georgian, and I am the Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization."
