Georgia is Heading to a Maidan-Like Moment
The demonstrations in Georgia continue. They have become more violent as leaders of the resistance are beaten. It also divides society along the lines of the far right and the pro-European forces. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said this to Europe-based media. Which is incredibly telling:
The Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence changes the terms of relations with Western partners and friends of Georgia, since it considers them agents of subversion and revolution who are trying to overthrow the current government
➖ Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said in an interview with EURACTIV.
“We are wasting time… What is happening means that this government does not want to take us to the results that are needed by the end of the year on the path to reform defined by the European Commission. Instead, we are now focused on this law and its consequences.” .
Zurabishvili confirmed she would veto the law, although it is a symbolic move because the ruling party has enough votes to reject it.
“I know that the veto will be overridden, but it doesn’t matter because I will do it on behalf of the people on the streets,” Zurabishvili said.
According to her, “the only thing that can change the overall picture of our current situation is the people themselves, participating in elections.” The parliamentary elections in October, Zurabishvili said, will become a de facto referendum: “should the country continue moving towards the EU or take a different path.”
She knows that she will be overridden. This would be the second veto she did last year for those keeping count. This brings me to this tidbit that parallels events in Ukraine in 2014. The West is signaling support for the Georgian street:
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