At the U.S.-led Summit of Democracy spearheaded by President Biden himself, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili spoke on the challenges facing Georgia and the broader democratic community, while also highlighting the steps Georgia is taking to continue its democratic gains in the face of continued Russian aggression and heightened domestic polarization.
The President stated that democracies the world over are continuously facing threats to their democratic progress by authoritarian regimes that are determined to undermine the international rule-based system. “Every day, democracies across the globe are confronted by significant threats that aim at undermining the progress achieved internally, while challenging the law-based international world order.” She specifically highlighted the illegal and relentless challenges posed by Russia to international peace and security, who currently occupies 20% of Georgian territory and continues to instigate aggression against Georgia and its neighbors.
Discussing Georgia’s own efforts to consolidate its burgeoning democracy against authoritarian pressure, the President stated that the Georgian government has committed to reforms that strengthen its democratic resiliency and align with its transatlantic values. Reforms include creating a more inclusive judicial process, a new National Human Rights Strategy to protect and expand human rights, and new programs that elevate the role of women by cracking down on violence against women and through economic empowerment.
While President Zourabichvili stated that these steps are important to Georgia’s democratic trajectory, she noted that any changes would be insufficient and flawed until the polarization in Georgian society is properly addressed. “As the President of Georgia, I therefore pledge to initiate an inclusive process, a national conversation involving all of society to find the way to achieve a shared understanding of recent history, to help heal the pains, and move forward,” she said.
At the Summit, the Georgian President was able to provide a unique perspective on democratic consolidation in the face of authoritarian aggression, while also showing the continued commitment to advancing reforms that empower the Georgian people. Even as Georgia faces its own struggle against polarization and political division, Georgia remains steadfast and united in its democratic trajectory and transatlantic aspirations that will lead to its eventual membership in both NATO and the EU.