Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili criticizes government for appeasing Russia and drifting away from Europe

In her Independence Day address, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili criticized the government for its policies with regard to Russia and Russian immigrants.

The president emphasized that “independence” requires the state to protect its citizens, and statehood itself presupposes that all people should be equal before the law.

“It’s unclear why no measures or rules have been developed for those who arrived en masse from Russia and for their activities, especially in spheres like healthcare and education,” Zourabichvili said.

Acknowledging Georgia’s centuries-old traditions of hospitality and tolerance, the president also brought up Russia’s propensity to treat Russian speakers in other countries as a pretext for invading.

Zourabichvili objected, once again, to the government’s decision to resume direct flight between Russia and Georgia.

These policies, the president warned, are contributing to Georgia’s drift away from Europe, and may ultimately lead to its isolation.