Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has announced she will not vacate her office when her six-year term ends on Sunday, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of endangering the country’s sovereignty and aligning with Moscow’s interests.
Zourabichvili, 72, has framed her decision as a stand against what she calls the party’s “complete takeover of the state.” The former diplomat has been a vocal critic of Georgian Dream, alleging that their governance threatens Georgia’s pro-European aspirations and independence.
The president has also criticized the recent electoral victory of Georgian Dream, describing it as a “Russian special operation.” She has been an outspoken supporter of pro-EU protests against the government, aligning herself with citizens pushing for closer ties with Europe and resisting perceived Russian influence.
Under Georgia’s revised electoral system, Zourabichvili is slated to be replaced by Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer and the sole candidate in a process largely dominated by the ruling party. Zourabichvili has condemned Kavelashvili’s selection as illegitimate and “a travesty.”
The Georgian government has responded sharply to her defiance, warning that remaining in office beyond her term would constitute a criminal offense.
Zourabichvili’s family fled Georgia in 1921 following the Soviet annexation of the country. A century later, she remains a prominent voice warning against what she perceives as renewed threats to Georgia’s sovereignty and Western alignment.
“If I am forced out, the Georgian Dream party’s grip on the state will be complete, and the sovereignty of this country will be lost,” Zourabichvili said in a statement.
Her decision comes amid increasing tensions between the Georgian government and its citizens, many of whom are calling for deeper integration with the European Union and rejecting what they see as encroaching Russian influence.