Former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili Becomes Kissinger Fellow at Arizona University
The McCain Institute at the University of Arizona has announced that former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has become a Kissinger Fellow at the institution. The announcement states that Zourabichvili will utilize her extensive experience in diplomacy, leadership, and political governance to promote democratic elections and a democratic path in her home country.
Zourabichvili expressed gratitude for the fellowship, saying, “In a time of struggle between autocracies and democracies, it is crucial to stand by democratic actors on the front lines. Georgia embodies this struggle, for which Senator John McCain dedicated his life.”
According to unofficial information, Zourabichvili has already left Georgia.
The political council of the Georgian government’s party, the Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia, released a statement on January 8, declaring that the country had managed to avoid the Ukrainian scenario, but the struggle for the preservation of peace in the country would continue.
Zourabichvili’s term as a pro-Western president ended on December 29, as the new Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili, was inaugurated. Zourabichvili initially stated that she would not leave the presidential palace, but eventually vacated the residence peacefully.
Before leaving, Zourabichvili emphasized that she would not recognize the results of the Georgian parliamentary elections in October 2024, and instead supported opposition parties and protests by the opposition.