Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on Wednesday asked the European Union (EU) to do more to support pro-European protesters and to pressure the pro-Russian ruling Georgian Dream party to hold new elections.
Protesters in Georgia, facing violent police tactics, are demanding new elections in near-daily protests after allegations of theft during October's parliamentary elections, which Georgian Dream declared victory and which the opposition refuses to recognize.
Pro-European President Zurabishvili, who sided with the protesters, told the members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the elections must be repeated since they were marked by irregularities, violence and the influence of Russia, the Georgian service of RSE reported.
"Europe needs to find leverage to act. If Europe cannot influence a country of 3,7 million inhabitants, how can it expect to compete with the giants of the 21st century," she said, accusing Georgian Dream of spending around 200 million euros, as she stated, of "black money" in order to influence the elections in her favor.
"Intimidation, use of administrative resources, Russian-style propaganda... In addition, 'black money' was used in large quantities. During the elections, there was no police. I personally witnessed the violence in various districts and tried to contact the Minister of the Interior, but I couldn't reach him," Zurabishvili added.
Georgia gained EU candidate status in December last year, but relations with Brussels have been strained in recent months following the adoption of a controversial law on "foreign agents" in May. Critics say the law threatens media and civil society groups and mirrors a similar Russian law used by the Kremlin to stifle opposition and civil society.
After the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in the Oct. 26 election, protests were reignited and intensified after the government announced it was suspending accession talks with the EU.
EU foreign ministers agreed this Sunday to impose visa restrictions on some Georgian officials, but Hungary and Slovakia, two EU members whose governments are pro-Moscow, blocked a proposed package of sanctions against top Georgian officials over violent suppression of demonstrations.
"If we are honest, Europe has so far not fully risen to the moment. Europe has so far responded half-heartedly to the challenge," Zurabishvili said. "While the Georgians are fighting day and night, the Europeans are slow to wake up and slow to react".
Zurabishvili should be replaced at the head of the state by former football player Mihail Kavelashvili, whom the parliament, controlled by the Georgian Dream, appointed as the new president of Georgia last Sunday.
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