Parliament Speaker says President's statement on Chinese leader “damaging”, “ignores citizen's interests”, “creates embarrassment”
Papuashvili also cited the “concern” of Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, as the “main outcome” of Zourabichvili’s remark, adding the claims were “removed from the reality and fail to take into account the interests of Georgian citizens”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Monday said comments by the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Saturday said seeing the Chinese leader put on trial would be a “historic outcome”, were “damaging”, “ignored citizen’s interests” and “created embarrassment”.
The official’s comment came following a remark by Zourabichvili, who told France’s LCI channel the prospect of the leaders of Russia and China facing court would “clarify certain matters”.
Papuashvili alleged the Georgian constitution was a “just piece of paper” for Zourabichvili, in reference to the Constitutional Court’s decision that in October ruled the President had violated the law with her foreign visits in defiance of the Government.
He also alleged it was “not surprising” the President’s actions were “against the interests” of the country’s citizens, and noted partner countries were “aware her words do not represent the opinion of the majority” of the population.
He also claimed the President had put citizens in an “embarrassing situation” with “absolutely incomprehensible” statements when on foreign visits and while making remarks about “the leader of Georgia’s strategic partner country”.
Papuashvili also cited the “concern” of Zhou Qian, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, as the “main outcome” of Zourabichvili’s remark, adding the claims were “removed from the reality and fail to take into account the interests of Georgian citizens”.
Reacting to separate comments by the President and some opposition figures on the possibility of a coalition government being formed following the 2024 elections in Georgia, Papuashvili said it was “humiliating and patronising” on citizens of the country, and added Zourabichvili and the domestic opposition “need to learn how democracy functions and not dictate election results” to citizens.