A nationwide three-hour warning strike is planned for January 15th in Georgia, beginning at 3 PM, to pressure the government into holding new elections and releasing detained protesters. The strike, encompassing employers and employees across the country, aims to highlight the economic consequences of the ongoing political crisis. This action follows October’s disputed parliamentary elections and the subsequent inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili, further fueling opposition and international concern. The strike is spurred by the government’s rejection of European integration and a crackdown on protestors, prompting calls for intervention from several Northern European nations.
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Following the October parliamentary elections, which were widely criticized as neither free nor fair, Georgia’s electoral college appointed Mikheil Kavelashvili, a hardline critic of the West, as the next president. Incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili denounced the election as a “mockery of democracy,” rejecting the results and claiming the parliament lacks legitimacy to choose her successor. Zourabichvili, who has clashed repeatedly with the ruling Georgian Dream party, vows to remain president, citing concerns about the party’s pro-Russia stance and increasing authoritarianism. Opposition parties also support Zourabichvili’s claim of continued legitimacy.
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Mikheil Kavelashvili, a pro-Russia politician with strong anti-Western views, was elected Georgian president by a vote of 224 out of 225 electors. His election follows contested parliamentary elections and the Georgian Dream party’s decision to delay EU membership talks, sparking widespread protests. Incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-Western figure, rejects the legitimacy of the election and refuses to step down, creating a constitutional crisis. International condemnation of the situation is mounting, with the EU and US expressing support for Georgia’s pro-democracy movement and imposing sanctions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker