Zourabichvili holds first briefing in new Tbilisi office

Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zourabichvili, on Thursday held her first briefing in her new office, located on Chovelidze Street in the Vera district of Tbilisi. The office, she noted, serves as an extension of the Orbeliani Palace, her official residence for the past six years.

“I would like to welcome you today to this office, which is an extension of the Orbeliani Palace. It may not look like it, but the spirit and essence are here,” Zourabichvili said. She highlighted that the office was symbolic of the continuation of presidential duties in a country grappling with a deep political crisis.

Zourabichvili’s departure from the Orbeliani Palace took place on December 29, coinciding with the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili, nominated as the sixth president by the ruling Georgian Dream party. However, Zourabichvili and many others, including opposition parties, civil society organizations, and a significant portion of the Georgian public, do not recognize Kavelashvili’s legitimacy. This includes a number of international partners who have raised doubts about his presidency.

Kavelashvili, a former initiator of the controversial 2023 “foreign agents” bill, was nominated by former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who himself was sanctioned by the US just two days before Kavelashvili’s inauguration. The legitimacy of the October 26, 2024 elections, which resulted in Kavelashvili’s victory, is also questioned by opposition parties, several NGOs, and a large part of the population.

Since November 28, daily rallies have been held across Tbilisi and other Georgian cities, demanding new elections and the release of individuals detained during pro-European protests. The protests were sparked after the Georgian Dream party announced that it would no longer prioritize EU accession negotiations over the next four years, further fueling public dissatisfaction.