President says gov’t set up “Russian village” at her office

Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday said the current authorities had set up a “Russian village” near the Orbeliani Palace in central Tbilisi, in reference to the New Year village, pointing to “permanent disrespect” to her office. 

“[…]What is happening today is unacceptable to the [presidential] institution, not to mention the woman and the president. Pressure, bullying – by the way, I do not know where there are the non-governmental organisations that should express something about bullying. Blackmail, direct blackmail, threats, humiliation, a Russian village at my door”, she noted at a special media briefing. 

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze on Tuesday said the “citizens had requested” the New Year village at the presidential palace. 

“Nothing has changed, as last year there was a Christmas village set up on Orbeliani Square, on the surrounding streets. The same thing has been done now. The only difference is that instead of the Deda Ena garden [ because the people working there asked us and that it is very cold in the evenings], we had moved it all to Orbeliani and the surrounding streets”, Kaladze said. 

The president did not tell the media whether she had plans to pardon imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili.