Salome Zurabishvili: We have decided to take ownership of May 26, and on May 9, to come out and oppose Russification with Europe. Wherever you look—shops, restaurants—it's mostly Russians, while Georgian citizens are struggling, and Russians are benefiting

“It is important that we stand together on May 9, which is Europe Day and also a response to the Russification of this country—a process we are seeing very clearly today on our streets,” Georgia’s fifth President Salome Zurabishvili said at a briefing today.

According to Zurabishvili, Georgian citizens are struggling while “Russians are benefiting.”

“It is important that we are united on May 9, which is Europe Day and at the same time a response to the Russification of this country, which we see very clearly today in our streets, in our shops, in our restaurants. Wherever you look, it’s mostly Russians—Russians who live comfortably in this country. Meanwhile, Georgian citizens are struggling, and the Russians are profiting. But on May 9, we must come out and counter this Russification with Europe. We must oppose it with the idea of visa liberalization, and if that is ever threatened, we will reclaim it.

Most importantly, yesterday we had a very significant meeting where all those present decided together that we will take ownership of May 26. To take ownership of May 26 means that everyone—political parties, civil society, NGOs, representatives of various sectors of society, whether business or culture—everyone, every citizen of Georgia, will take responsibility for May 26.

May 26 is ours! May 26 is a symbol of independence, and today, independence must be defended in Georgia. We will protect our independence, we will protect our country—all of us, first on May 9, and then on May 26,” Zurabishvili said.

She also addressed the topics discussed at today’s “Resistance Platform” meeting:

“At today’s meeting of the Resistance Platform, we discussed the horrifying picture of the country. These attacks on young women, a prisoner who died in jail and was found to have 30 injuries according to an official Vivamedi document—this is the current image of our country. Even worse is that today we cannot have any real expectations or hope in the justice system, in investigations or the courts. This is exactly what must change urgently in this country—we must regain state institutions that conduct investigations as is done in any civilized nation. The main goal—we must reclaim the judiciary,” Zurabishvili stated.