Prepared by Messenger Staff
Zourabichvili Calls for New Elections and International Oversight in Georgia
Georgia's 5th President Salome Zourabichvili has called for new parliamentary elections to be held under international administration, citing growing concerns over political repression and institutional breakdown in the country.
"New parliamentary elections under international administration must be scheduled so that Georgia can reclaim its independent path," Zourabichvili wrote on her X page.
In a more detailed post, she added that the release of political prisoners and journalists is essential to restoring democratic order. "Prisoners of conscience, unlawfully detained journalists, political leaders have to be released, repressive laws repealed, new parliamentary elections set with international administration for Georgia to recover its independent path," she wrote.
Zourabichvili also addressed supporters of the ruling party in a separate Facebook post, posing a question about their continued loyalty to the government.
"What more must Georgian Dream do for its last Mohicans to open their eyes?" she asked.
Zourabichvili criticized what she described as a breakdown in democratic norms and the misuse of state power. "When the police, instead of showing restraint and moderation, act arbitrarily toward ordinary citizens; when criminals roam the streets; when the prime minister loses the sense of institutional responsibility and talks about his friends rather than the government; when a judge denies a lawyer the right to speak. the question arises: What more are we waiting for on their path to collapse?" she wrote.
UNM Chair Says UK Investigating Ivanishvili's Offshore Assets
Tina Bokuchava, Chairperson of Georgia's opposition party United National Movement, stated that the United Kingdom is actively investigating financial dealings linked to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire and former prime minister widely seen as the informal leader of the Georgian Dream government.
"The British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, gave a very specific response, stating that the Foreign Office is thoroughly investigating the corrupt schemes of Ivanishvili's regime, including maintaining active contact with British territory, where Ivanishvili personally, as well as his close associates, hide significant amounts of assets in offshore companies," Bokuchava said during a visit to the United Kingdom with other party leaders.
According to Bokuchava, the opposition delegation met with officials at the British Foreign Office to discuss several issues, including the potential imposition of sanctions.
"We have just come out of a meeting at the British Foreign Office, where we had very important discussions, including on the need for Syria to retract its illegal recognition of Georgia's occupied regions," she said. "We also discussed the necessity of imposing financial sanctions on Ivanishvili and his entourage to return the country to the path of democratic development," Bokuchava added, according to a statement released by the United National Movement.
