New Civil Movement Vote for Europe Founded Ahead of Elections

The Russian law of the Georgian Dream party threatens independent media and civil society organizations and hinders Georgia from joining the European Union.

Russian law establishes Putin's rules in Georgia, which has eliminated free speech in Russia.

When you are oppressed, there will be no one to cover your problem and stand by you.

Georgian News will resist the Russian intention of the Georgian Dream to the end!

Vote for Europe is the newly established civil movement aimed at safeguarding Georgia's European future, independence, and freedom. Its founders include security expert Khatuna Lagazidze, political analyst and Tbilisi State University professor Lela Jejelava, European politics expert Giorgi Rukhadze, businessman Iva Chkonia, and University of Georgia professor Dr. Lasha Dzebisashvili.

"We propose to establish a strategic dialogue platform for the long-term development plan of Georgia with broad public participation. This strategy should serve as a foundational document for future governments," Khatuna Lagazidze addressed the audience.

The President of Georgia also delivered a speech at the unveiling of the new civic movement. Salome Zourabichvili criticized the government for veering away from the European path and emphasized that the fate of the country would be decided in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"We have little time left - just one hundred days. One hundred days is both too little and a lot for society to voice its opinions. This won't be just another election. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here as president. This is a choice about our country's destiny. This is about our future - it's truly a referendum. On one side, there is Georgian society; on the other, there's a government that has usurped our future. We cannot accept that. We must unite," Zourabichvili declared.

Film director Lana Ghoghoberidze, musician Nino Katamadze, conductor and composer Nikoloz Rachveli, director Levan Tsuladze, the organization 12 Storey, founder and TV presenter of the group Ancestors Sophia Khuntsiria, director of the ensemble Sukhishvili Nino Sukhishvili, artist Gogi Aleksi-Meshkhishvili, Doctor of Medicine and immunologist Giorgi Kamkamidze, winner of the 2020 National Teacher Award Sofo Gogokhia, and others have joined the civic movement. They have signed a manifesto asserting that simply dreaming and contemplating will not suffice for Georgia to translate its historical choice into reality. They stress that active participation from each of us is necessary to safeguard the European future and steer the country back onto an irreversible path of democracy and development.

The civic movement plans to launch a 100-day continuous European marathon from July 18 to October 26. During this period, they will inform the Georgian population about the significance of the upcoming elections and assist immigrants with consular registration.

Georgian News
Georgian News
is an independent socio-political online edition. The website is operated by the Information Resources Network (IRN).