On December 11, Russian-language Facebook accounts ( 1, 2 ) shared a quote attributed to the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, in which she allegedly discusses not stepping down from her position. According to the post, she supposedly says, “France and the European Union appointed me to this position, and it is not up to Georgians to decide who leads them and for how long.”
The same post claims that Irakli Kobakhidze offered Zourabichvili a position as a cleaner at the Orbeliani Palace.
“I officially invite the former president to take this position,” stated Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze.
It is noteworthy that, judging by the comments and reactions to the post, some Facebook users perceived the quotes as genuine.
The quotes attributed to Salome Zourabichvili and Irakli Kobakhidze are fake. The President of Georgia stated that she considers the Georgian Dream’s nomination of Kavelashvili as president a provocation and does not intend to resign. However, she did not say that she was appointed president by France or the European Union. Likewise, Irakli Kobakhidze did not make any statement suggesting he invited Zourabichvili to stay on as a cleaner at the Orbeliani Palace.
On December 13, the day before the so-called presidential elections, Salome Zourabichvili held a press conference. She announced that she would remain in the presidential post and described the nomination of Mikheil Kavelashvili as a presidential candidate by the Georgian Dream as a “provocation” and a “parody.” At no point during this or any other statement did she claim that she was appointed president by France or the European Union.
“I am not going anywhere. I will not leave anyone. People keep asking me this – I am here and will stay here. I am here and will stay here because this country absolutely needs a legitimate institution at this moment, a legitimate part of the government that is truly elected and reflects the voice of this country and society,” Salome Zourabichvili stated on December 13.
As for Irakli Kobakhidze, during a news briefing on December 14, he referred to Salome Zourabichvili as a tragic figure. However, the quote circulating on social media is not his.
“Salome Zourabichvili is in a difficult psychological state. She literally has two Fridays left; in exactly two weeks, the inauguration of Georgia’s new president will take place, and Salome Zourabichvili will have to leave her position,” Irakli Kobakhidze said.
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