Fifth President Zourabichvili condemns PM’s letter to Trump as ‘shameful’, ‘sign of desperation’

Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zourabichvili, on Monday criticized a recent open letter by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to US President Donald Trump, calling it a "shameful" document that “reflects the complete desperation" of the Georgian Dream government.

Speaking at a briefing, Zourabichvili described the letter as an indicator of the government’s "moral and political collapse."

She further claimed the letter lacked diplomatic protocol and was devoid of any sense of friendship or respect toward a strategic partner like the United States. "I don't know who wrote it or in what mood it was written, but it shows the complete desperation of the government," she said, suggesting that the ruling party was struggling to cope with the consequences of the US House of Representatives recently passed MEGOBARI Act, which imposes sanctions on Georgian officials.

Zourabichvili suggested that the letter was a “desperate attempt” to address mounting pressure on the government. "It is clear that there is a lot of nervousness in the circle of the Georgian Dream, and this letter is a manifestation of this," she added.

The fifth president also condemned recent incidents of violence against female journalists and activists, which she described as evidence of the "barbaric and backward" nature of the “current regime.” "This is a sign that civilized forms have been lost. This is unacceptable," she noted.

Zourabichvili further criticized the government's response to US sanctions against former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze, who has reportedly changed his name to Romanov and appeared in Red Square, Moscow. She accused Georgian Dream leaders of attempting to protect Partskhaladze instead of holding him accountable.

Zourabichvili also emphasized that the letter to Trump was particularly damaging because it betrayed Georgia’s tradition of gratitude toward the United States, which has provided substantial support to the country for decades, including military assistance and training.

"For 30 years, we were one of the first beneficiaries of American aid, and this is our response? I don’t know where our traditions are getting lost," she lamented.