Parliament Speaker: President thinks Georgia is “backyard of her residence”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili did “not consider herself a child of this country” and thought Georgia was the “backyard of her presidential residence”, in criticism of her unauthorised foreign trips.

Papuashvili alleged the country’s constitution was an “ordinary sheet of paper” for Zourabichvili, which “lies on her shelf in the form of a book”, in comments on the President’s plans to participate in the Munich Security Conference without the Government authorising her departure for the purpose.

Salome Zourabichvili does not consider herself a child of this country, she did not accept this constitution. Her heart does not ache about the words that are written in this constitution, because these words were written in this constitution with our blood. All the words in this constitution were written with the blood of the heroes of April 9 [1989, when Soviet troops attacked and killed peaceful protesters in Tbilisi]”, the Parliament official claimed.  

“That is why Salome Zourabichvili so freely declares that the constitution is nothing to her. She does what she wants. She thinks Georgia is the backyard of her [presidential] residence. The only reason why she maintains this position is her support by the [opposition] United National Movement [party]”, he continued.

Papuashvili went as far as claiming Zourabichvili did “not represent Georgia” following her unauthorised foreign trips.

The Constitutional Court of Georgia last year concluded Zourabichvili had violated the country’s Constitution through her visits to Europe in late August and September without the Government's authorisation.