Washington, DC | December 6, 2024 – Current and former heads of state and foreign ministers issued an urgent letter expressing solidarity for the Georgian people and President Salome Zourabichvili as over 200,000 Georgian citizens have taken to the streets to protest the Russia-aligned ruling party’s suspension of EU accession talks. The protests underscore their profound commitment of the Georgian people to their European future and democratic path. The letter calls on the US, EU, foreign governments and multilateral organizations to support President Zourabichvili and provide robust support to Georgian civil society.
The letter states:
“We, the undersigned Global Women Leaders, stand in solidarity with the Georgian people and President Salome Zourabichvili during this critical juncture in Georgia’s history. Recent events in Tbilisi, where over 200,000 citizens have taken to the streets to protest the Russia-aligned ruling party’s suspension of EU accession talks, underscore the profound commitment of the Georgian people to their European future and democratic path.
The actions of the ruling party, including the suspension of EU accession talks and the violent suppression of peaceful protests, constitute a direct violation of Georgia’s Constitution and fundamental human rights. Combined with what international observers have deemed fraudulent parliamentary elections and the systematic erosion of democratic norms, these actions betray the overwhelming support of the majority of Georgians who support Euro-Atlantic integration and a democratic future.
Despite continuous backlash and harassment from the government, President Zourabichvili has demonstrated unwavering courage and leadership in condemning the government’s anti-democratic measures. By standing with the protesters and rejecting the ruling Dream party’s unconstitutional actions, she has embodied the will of her people and upheld the democratic principles that Georgia has long aspired to fully achieve. She remains the sole legitimate leader in a country where the current government came to power through questionable elections.
The international community should take immediate and decisive action. We urge the EU, foreign governments and multilateral organizations to support President Zourabichvili’s mandate and provide robust support to Georgian civil society.
Georgia is not an isolated case: it is a critical battleground in the global struggle between authoritarianism and democracy. As women leaders, we call on the international community to act decisively to protect Georgia’s democracy and the unwavering courage of its people and its President. ”
The letter was signed by members of the Global Women Leaders Network convened by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and The Rockefeller Foundation:
Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister, New Zealand
Hillary Clinton, 67th United States Secretary of State
Patricia Espinosa, Former Foreign Minister of Mexico
Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister, Australia
Dalia Grybauskaitė, Former President, Lithuania
Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister, Finland
Monica McWilliams, Former Member of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland
Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, President, the Republic of Kosovo
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia
Melanne Verveer, Former US Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues and Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
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About Global Women Leaders Network
The Global Women Leaders Network includes former and current heads of state, ministers, and high-level government and private sector representatives. Together, they form a united force to advance gender equality and address the world’s most pressing challenges. The Network was first convened in 2022 by The Rockefeller Foundation and Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) and is chaired by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ambassador Melanne Verveer.
Media Contact:
Sarah Rutherford, sdr56@georgetown.edu