Day: February 17, 2024

On February 16 and 17, dozens of Russians in Georgia commemorated the death in a Russian colony of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian anti-corruption activist, fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a political prisoner who was jailed since 2021. The rallies were held in Tbilisi and Batumi.

On February 16, a rally of Russian citizens was reported in Tbilisi. “Putin is a thief and a killer,” demonstrators were heard saying in a video circulated on the Internet. Russian citizens gathered near the former Russian Embassy in Tbilisi and displayed protest signs, including ones that read “Putin is a killer” and “Alexei, we won’t give up.”

On the same day, a rally was also held in Batumi, a coastal Georgian city that became one of the main destinations in Georgia for Russians who left the country after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “Freedom for political prisoners,” the protesters chanted.

The Russian citizens mourning Alexei Navalny also gathered near the Russian Embassy building in Tbilisi on February 17.

The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili reacted to Navalny’s death on February 16 in a tweet saying his “death is a tragedy for all democracy and human rights defenders. My condolences to his family and those who in Russia continue his fight for democracy.” Asked about Navalny’s death, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia from the ruling Georgian Dream party, Shalva Papuashvili, said that he “cannot have a comment on this issue.”

Also Read:

• 04/02/2022 – Georgian Dream MP Lashes Out at Deported Russian Opposition Leader
• 30/10/2021 – Key Navalny Ally Was Refused Entry to Georgia -Report
• 03/09/2020 – Georgia Joins EU Statement on Navalny Poisoning

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili is currently attending the Munich Security Conference, where she met with several world leaders, including European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, and the U.S European Commander Christopher G. Cavoli. President Zurabishvili also had brief meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.

Meeting with European Commission Vice-President

On February 16, President Zurabishvili met with European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová. During the meeting, they discussed Georgia’s European integration process, the President’s administration reports.

According to the official press release, President Zurabishvili thanked Vice-President Jourová for the European Commission’s “clear and robust statement on the recommendations” and for granting Georgia the status of an EU candidate country.

President Zurabishvili stressed the importance of obtaining the EU candidate status, especially “at a time when Russian propaganda is actively seeking to expand its influence and gain a foothold in Georgia”. The actions of the European Commission, Zurabishvili stressed, have bolstered the European aspirations of the Georgian people.

“MSC2024: Thanked VP Věra Jourová for the European Commission’s clear and strong support for Georgia’s European aspirations and discussed the significance of Georgia’s candidate country status,” – President Zurabishvili tweeted.

Meeting with U.S. Senators

On February 17, Zurabishvili met with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis. During the meeting, Zurabishvili thanked the senators for the U.S. support for Georgia’s integration into the EU and NATO. The sides discussed the Black Sea security issues, including Russia’s plan to open a permanent naval base in occupied Ochamchire, Abkhazia.

“#MSC24: Thanked Senator Jeanne Shaheen Senator Thom Tillis for unwavering U.S. support for our EU and NATO integration path. Also discussed Black Sea security, highlighting Russia’s alarming illegal plans for a naval base in occupied Abkhazia,” – Zurabishvili tweeted following the meeting.

Meeting with EU Trade Commissioner

On February 17, Zurabishvili also met with the EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. During the meeting, the parties discussed Georgia’s EU accession process. Commissioner Dombrovskis expressed the EU’s support for the Georgian people’s choice to be the part of the EU.

“Glad to meet Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili to discuss Georgia’s EU accession process and closer integration into single market. We support the Georgian people’s choice to be part of EU and will help with all necessary assistance to make it happen,” – tweeted Dombrovskis.

Meeting with U.S European Commander

Zurabishvili also met with the Commander of the U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Christopher G. Cavoli. During the meeting, they discussed Georgia’s NATO integration process and emphasized the importance of Black Sea security.

“NATO integration is as important to Georgia as EU integration. Today, General Christopher G. Cavoli discussed Georgia’s NATO integration path, progress and opportunities for cooperation. Emphasized the importance of Black Sea security in the new security architecture,” – President Zurabishvili tweeted.

On February 17, President Zurabishvili also had brief meetings with several the world leaders on the sidelines of the Conference, including the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

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President Zurabishvili is taking part in the Munich Security Conference, which is being held from February 16 to 18. On February 18 she will speak on the Conference panel “A Deeper, Wider, and More Capable EU?”, and participate in the discussion “Better Safe Than Sorry: Securing NATO’s Eastern Flank Readiness”.

President Salome Zurabishvili’s unauthorized visits abroad led to the attempt by the ruling “Georgian Dream” government to impeach her in October 2023.

More to follow…

Also Read:

• 13/02/2024 – Munich Security Report: pro-Russian Oligarch Ivanishvili Responsible for Georgia’s Tilt Away from EU