“The coming months will be decisive for the country’s future, and it is during this period that it will become clear whether Georgia remains a free European democracy or ends up in Russia’s sphere of influence,” Georgia’s fifth president stated in an interview with The Washington Times.
Salome Zourabichvili also noted that elections in the country will likely take place, but it remains unknown under what conditions the electoral process will be conducted.
“My role is to unite Georgian society around the future, around its own vision. Outside the country, my role is also to be the voice of a society that effectively no longer has a voice. Embassies serve the party.
It can be predicted that elections will take place in this country, but we do not know under what conditions. Perhaps the weakened regime will collapse at some point. Perhaps it will decide to hold elections before it loses control over key processes. Or we will go through a regular electoral cycle.
The West must prepare now. In any case, risk prevention, assistance, and observation will be required. Old methods are no longer sufficient. Last century’s OSCE observation no longer works; we live in a different world where even artificial intelligence is used. Whoever preserves the Caucasus will also preserve the corridor connecting Europe to Central Asia,” — Zourabichvili stated.
