State Duma calls Zurabishvili's call to schoolchildren to support protests cynical

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili's appeal to schoolchildren to support the protests is a demonstration of cynicism and willingness to put children at risk for the sake of preserving power. This was pointed out on December 2 by Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.

Zurabishvili published a corresponding message earlier in the day on social network X (former Twitter). She noted that students had already come out to protest, and now it was the turn of schoolchildren.

"There is absolute cynicism in the actions of Mrs. Zurabishvili in the name of staying in power, and in an absolutely illegitimate way. She is ready to violate not only formal laws, not only legal norms that exist in any state, in Georgia too, but also to put young, underage boys, children at risk," Duma TV for Izvestia quoted Novikov's commentary as saying.

The MP emphasized that Zurabishvili as an adult understands that mass protests can be dangerous for children, because riots sometimes turn into casualties. And this, the politician added, does not prevent her from urging children to take to the streets in her personal and US interests.

"This shows absolutely unprincipled behavior, this person's lack of morality, absolute cynicism. Unfortunately, the architects of the technology called "color revolution" have never shown principles, conscience, wisdom, decency, concern for people and their lives," the interlocutor of the publication summed up.

According to him, there is nothing new in such manifestations. The methodology of such events has long been thought out by Western customers, Novikov said. He emphasized that it is important to understand that the protest actions are carried out at the expense of the actions of an aggressive minority, not the majority of the country's residents.

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Earlier in the day, a Izvestia correspondent reported that people were once again gathering for a protest rally near the Georgian Foreign Ministry. According to him, they do not have time to change windows in the parliament building after the rallies. Because of possible continuation of the protest in the evening, sheets of plywood are inserted into the window openings on the lower floors and metal bars are welded on.

Theprotest action has been going on for the fourth day in Georgia. It is connected with the suspension of negotiations on European integration and disagreement with the results of parliamentary elections in the country. On November 30, protesters tried to set fire to the parliament building and damaged dozens of offices. Against the backdrop of the situation, the country's Interior Ministry called on the opposition supporters to remove children from the rally for safety reasons.

Earlier, on November 30, Zurabishvili said she would not give up her powers. In her opinion, the parliament of the new convocation is illegitimate, so her powers will continue after the end of her mandate. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze responded by warning that she would have to leave office by law on December 29.