Zourabichvili Urges EU to Respond to Democratic Crisis in Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, has sent an open letter to the foreign ministers of the European Union member states, European Commission Vice President, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, calling for immediate and unified action in response to what she describes as a democratic and geopolitical crisis in Georgia.
In the letter, Zourabichvili warns that the current political situation is not just a domestic issue triggered by what she calls rigged elections, but a broader threat to the European democratic vision. She said the EU must respond decisively or risk losing Georgia as a strategic partner.
"The current situation in Georgia is not merely an internal political crisis caused by rigged elections. Europe faces a new challenge-one that contradicts and harms its democratic vision," she wrote.
She described Georgia's trajectory as a rapid slide toward a "quasi-totalitarian" system and accused the Georgian Dream of being politically subordinate to the Russian regime. Zourabichvili claimed that Russia is using a hybrid strategy of interference, propaganda, and influence over state institutions to bring Georgia under its control, without direct military intervention.
"Russia is attempting to subjugate this country with a new hybrid strategy based on rigged elections, large-scale propaganda, and indirect interference," she stated. She added that this form of "peaceful capture" is just as dangerous as open aggression.
Zourabichvili noted that similar interference attempts have been observed in Moldova, Romania, Serbia, and other countries, urging the EU to reassess its strategic approach in the region. She warned that Russia seeks to counter progress in the South Caucasus, particularly in light of the recent positive developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
She also raised concerns about Chinese economic involvement in Georgia's Black Sea infrastructure, including the Anaklia port, arguing that this further aligns with Russia's interests and creates competition with European investments.
"The ruling regime is opening economic routes for Chinese investments on the Black Sea coast, creating competition for European and Western investments, which aligns with Russia's strategic interests," she wrote.
Calling for urgent action, Zourabichvili urged the EU to assess the situation as an authoritarian power grab and a strategic realignment toward Russia. She called for unconditional support for the Georgian people and for coordinated and effective political steps by EU institutions and member states.
"If the EU does not respond clearly, unitedly, and with concrete results, it will not only lose Georgia as a strategic partner but will create a dangerous precedent where no one counters democratic backsliding and Russian interference on Europe's borders," she said.
Zourabichvili ended her letter by declaring that the time for strategic patience has ended and called for moral courage and political clarity from Europe.
"Georgia's democratic future, Europe's credibility, and geopolitical integrity hang by a thread," she wrote.
