The briefing by the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili on December 3, regarding the decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, unchanged:
“Today the Constitutional Court issued a verdict, several days ago, but today we are discussing it – today it issued a verdict against itself and the country and all institutions of the country. Because the chance that existed to return precisely through the Constitution’s decision to the constitutional framework for the country in general, and to that situation where we were before the elections, which is the beginning of these illegitimate events chained one after another that has led us today to where there no longer exists any legitimate institution in this country – not the parliament, not the government elected by this parliament, not the Constitutional Court, which has lost its essence, and not a whole range of other institutions that are completely dependent on one party system that has established itself in the country today.
The question was and probably is being asked why we filed a case in the Constitutional Court when we already knew the state of the entire judicial system, and I must answer this, as this was my decision – the hope or trust that the Constitutional Court would make the right decision, the right decision for the country, – the hope was small, but there always exists, for me there always exists first and foremost hope in people, especially in this country, where more than once people have shown that inner strength to stand against these events and stand as an individual.
I had hope somewhere that when people know that the means for the country to return to peace, to return to constitutional order, and then return to the political process depends on them – when people have this one opportunity given in history which will never return and when they share responsibility for everything that might develop, I thought, believed, hoped that at least three people would make this decision and would be true to their conscience and to the country.
I was wrong. I was wrong, and today we are in a situation where people more competent than me in this field will say their piece, but today we are in that very dangerous situation where the country no longer has any constitutional power, where they stabbed and completely tore up the constitution, the government did.
What remains? A constitutional legitimate institution remains – and that is me and this is a significant responsibility, and on the other side remains one person who has made complete usurpation of power in this country – and I’m not using the word ‘government’ – of power and has established a violent regime, this is Ivanishvili, and we must find a solution for this country that will be a peaceful solution. His responsibility is to return his regime to a non-violent state, to listen to the people. My responsibility is to lead this country to new elections which will legitimately elect its future government. Thank you very much.”
