Zurabishvili threatened to "overthrow the regime" if there are no new elections

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili threatened in a video message to "overthrow the regime" if the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition do not reach a compromise on the issue of new parliamentary elections. Interpressnews reported on December 23.

"If a compromise option, dialog is not reached, there is another option - we will get to the elections by overthrowing this regime, there is no other way," the agency quoted the Georgian president as saying.

According to her, the crisis in the state has reached such a stage that there is no legal, constitutional way left, except for the appointment of new elections, which should be held by December 29. The President added that the judicial processes, in particular the lawsuit filed with the European Court of Human Rights, have not reached a result.

"Where we are, two solutions remain: the first is to hold these elections as soon as possible and under conditions that will restore voter confidence. Reach an agreement with the leadership that these elections will be held within the established timeframe <...> the second option - we will get to the elections by overthrowing this regime, there is no other way," Zurabishvili concluded.

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Earlier, on December 22, the Georgian president gave the authorities a week to call new parliamentary elections. On that day, she joined the protests in Tbilisi.

Georgian presidential elections were held on December 14. For the first time, not citizens but a panel of 300 electors voted for a candidate for the post of head of state. Georgian Dream party candidate Mikhail Kavelashvili won the election.

Zurabishvili, in turn, refused to step down as head of state. This is happening against the background of ongoing protests in Georgia due to the suspension of negotiations on European integration and opposition disagreement with the results of parliamentary elections, which were held in late October and the results of which Zurabishvili also does not recognize. According to Middle East and Caucasus expert Stanislav Tarasov, she may create an opposition parliament, which threatens a dual power in the country and a power scenario.

On December 22, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that if the country's president decides to call new parliamentary elections or refuses to leave the residence of the head of state, it will threaten her with criminal liability. According to him, she will have to resign on December 29, when Zurabishvili's term of office expires.