Salome Zourabichvili has left the Orbeliani Palace, where she has lived as Georgia's fifth president for the past six years. She announced her decision to the citizens gathered outside the palace, alongside the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili as president in the illegitimate parliament.
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“Six years ago, I swore an oath to the Constitution, but even more so to loyalty to the country and to you. That is why I am here today, and this loyalty will not change, whether I am in the palace or outside of it.
I will step out of here, I will come out to you, and I will be with you. This building belongs to no one.
This building was a symbol while the legitimate president sat here. I take legitimacy with me. I take the flag with me. I take with me your trust.
Legitimacy comes from only one source, and that source is you. Where there is no trust from the people, there can be no legitimacy. Therefore, I will come out to you, and I will be with you,” Zourabichvili said.
Zourabichvili called the ongoing process in parliament a parody that “is not worthy of the state.”
“Because it is a parody, there are these two different images. They are locked away, scared, sold out, illegitimate, unrecognized by anyone, sanctioned, and oppressed. We are open, free, joyful, very peaceful, and we have the truth with us. We have love with us, love for the country, and perhaps even more importantly, love for each other. And that is why we will win,” Salome Zourabichvili said.
She promised to work on the text of the document that will serve as the foundation for holding new parliamentary elections in Georgia.
“This is not a slogan calling for new elections. This is not a rhetorical statement. This is a real demand, and therefore, it should be based on real conditions.
Elections will be held – there is no other way out, and this is the only solution in all such crises. But we must be ready for these elections. Not only by putting forward such a detailed document – the parties must be ready, the new forces that emerged during these protests, those who will be part of the country’s politics tomorrow, must also be ready. It is your turn, so get ready, because this will come very soon, and I will help you with this,” Salome Zourabichvili said.
She also highlighted the need to protect free media, strengthen support for those detained and fined during the rallies, and assist public officials dismissed from their positions.
“What is my duty now, other than coming out and being with you until the end, until we call for elections, until we have our own free and decent government? I will begin large-scale meetings with various segments of society,” Zourabichvili told the gathering.
As she noted, in her meeting with business representatives, she will discuss ways to overcome the “extreme economic and financial crisis” caused by the ruling party’s “reckless actions” and sanctions.
