The Georgian President, Salome Zourabichvili, believes that the country should not be reorganized before the elections. She announced this at a meeting with young people, where they asked about the effectiveness of the already imposed sanctions and whether it is necessary to tighten them.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Protests Erupt in Abkhazia Over Russia-Favored Law, Opposition Members Arrested
- 2 Edison: 13% Discrepancy Between Exit Polls and CEC Results Suggests Manipulation
- 3 Kobakhidze: German Chancellor Should Be More Concerned About His Own Problems
- 4 US-Sanctioned Russian Propagandist Present in Georgia During Elections
- 5 Judge of Tetritskaro Annuls Results of 30 Precincts Over Vote Secrecy Violations
- 6 Nauseda: Extensive Russian Interference Casts Doubt on Election Legitimacy
"I tell everyone I meet - and I will have very important meetings in the coming days - that the Georgian people should not be punished. That is, sanctions cannot be imposed on the country until it has democratically decided in the elections what kind of future it wants. Today, the Georgian people are fighting for a European future. This is not the moment for them to be punished by Europeans or Americans. As the president of the country, I never discuss individual sanctions; it is not my role, and I cannot speak about the effectiveness of these sanctions either," said the president.
Salome Zourabichvili called the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26 "existential."
"We have ample time to prepare for these elections, time we must use wisely. We need to launch a campaign to inform the people that this election is not just any election; it is an existential choice. We must firmly declare what Georgia has been asserting for 30 years: that as a state, our values align with European values. These values are intrinsic to us and cannot be altered by external forces. Georgia's path to modernization, independence, and strength is non-negotiable. This is the choice we face in the upcoming elections," the president stated.
Due to the approval of the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents by the Parliament of Georgia, along with a campaign of violence and intimidation against those opposing the law, the US State Department has imposed sanctions on dozens of Georgian citizens. The initial phase of visa sanctions has targeted approximately 30 individuals, including members of Georgian Dream, parliamentarians, law enforcement personnel, and private individuals. The identities of those sanctioned have not been disclosed. Furthermore, the USA is considering reducing its financial aid to Georgia.
The European Union is also contemplating retaliatory actions in response to the adoption of the Russian Law. Member states are discussing several options, such as suspending visa liberalization and reevaluating financial aid. Additionally, the Estonian Parliament has received a request to impose sanctions on Georgia.
