Irakli Kobakhidze. Photo: internationalinvestment.
Georgian Prime Minister Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has hinted at imprisoning President Salome Zurabishvili. Tensions are rising amid protests over the election results, and Kobakhidze has issued a strong statement against President Salome Zurabishvili, urging her to abide by the law and warning of possible legal consequences. This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, citing Liga.net.
Tensions between the Prime Minister and the President
Irakli Kobakhidze stressed that Salome Zurabishvili’s term of office is coming to an end, and therefore she should leave her post without any further action. “She has less than a week left in office. I advise her to refrain from meeting with the opposition and not to make any statements about new parliamentary elections,” the Prime Minister said.
When asked about Zurabishvili’s fate, Kobakhidze made an ambiguous hint: “We’ll see where she ends up – at large or behind bars. I think she has enough reasons to follow the Criminal Code.”
Political context
Political tensions are rising in Georgia. The Central Election Commission recently announced the results of the parliamentary elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won 54.08% of the vote. However, the opposition claimed that the results were falsified and refused to recognise them.
On 28 November, the European Parliament called for new parliamentary elections in Georgia, which led to mass protests in Tbilisi. In response, Kobakhidze said that Georgia was suspending negotiations on EU membership until 2028, which further exacerbated the situation.
Reaction of the public and the international community
The prime minister’s harsh statements and threats to the president have provoked a strong reaction in the country. Spontaneous rallies continue in Tbilisi, and the opposition is preparing for large-scale protests. European politicians are also closely monitoring the developments, stressing the need for a democratic settlement of the conflict.
