Georgian President Calls on the West for Support

(CLO) As Georgia faces a political crisis, President Salome Zourabichvili has called on the West for support in the anti-government protest movement.

The call comes as protests and clashes between police and protesters continue after five days of tension, since the ruling Georgian Dream party won the election again and announced the suspension of accession talks with the European Union.

President Zourabichvili, who has personally participated in protests and confrontations with police, stressed that she wants European countries to send a clear message about not recognizing the results of October's parliamentary elections, in which the Georgian Dream party won with 54% of the vote.

Both Ms Zourabichvili and opposition parties have alleged fraud in the election, but both the ruling party and the election commission have denied the allegations.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili speaks during an interview in Tbilisi, Georgia on December 2. Photo: Reuters

The Georgian president, whose parents are of Georgian descent and who was born in France, insisted that strong support from the West was the “only political way” to overcome the current crisis. She also praised the brave officials who resigned in protest against the government, including four ambassadors and senior lecturers at the Interior Ministry academy.

Ms Zourabichvili accused Russia of "interfering" in Georgia and other countries such as Moldova and Romania.

On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied all accusations of interfering in the situation in Georgia, and compared the situation to the "Maidan Revolution" that overthrew the government in Ukraine in 2014.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also warned that Georgia was "moving rapidly on the path of Ukraine", a path that could lead to a "very bad" outcome.

The US and EU have voiced concerns about democracy in Georgia, a Caucasus country of 3.7 million people located between Asia and Europe that was once part of the Soviet Union.

The Georgian government has enacted a law against "foreign agents", to protect the country from outside interference, and to prevent Georgia from being drawn into a conflict with Russia by the West like Ukraine.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has criticized the opposition for “coordinated violence” and said there is no possibility of negotiations with the opposition to resolve the crisis. Georgia's Interior Ministry said 21 police officers were injured during the protests, and a total of 113 people have been injured since the unrest began.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tong-thong-georgia-keu-goi-phuong-tay-ho-tro-post323968.html