Salome Zurabishvili Attends Munich Security Conference 2025

President Salome Zurabishvili is attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February 14-16, an annual event that brings together world leaders to discuss pressing security issues. This year the conference takes place amid a change in the U.S. administration, a new cycle of European legislature and the upcoming German parliamentary elections. None of the current Georgian Dream (GD) government representatives had been invited to the conference.

Before leaving for Germany, Salome Zurabishvili met with the leaders of opposition parties and civil society organizations, local media managers, activists, families of detained protesters, civil servants, and others, to prepare her messages for the conference. Former Georgian Prime Minister and current opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia is also attending the MSC.

Spotlight on Georgia

“It is very easy to find a solution if the United States and the European Union get together. I don’t think that small Georgia cannot be solved and become a good solution and an example of a democratic solution,” Zurabishvili said at the “Spotlight on Georgia” discussion on the first day of the MSC.

During the discussion, she addressed the political crisis in the country, the October 26 elections that she said were rigged, the actions of the Georgian Dream government, Russia’s interests in Georgia, the small country’s geopolitical importance, the ongoing protests, and the steps she believes the West should take now.

“I don’t see sufficient reactions from our European partners or American partners,” Zurabishvili declared, warning that if Russia succeeds in Georgia, it will then turn to the other countries in the region and further in Europe. She also stressed the country’s geopolitical importance, pointing to the Black Sea, where she said Russia and China are seeking greater control.

Addressing the ongoing protests, she praised Georgians for their peaceful resistance to what she described as a “dictatorship” – albeit, she added, a still weak one. She rejected the idea that the country was experiencing a “revolution.” She also noted the grass-root nature of the protest: “Nobody is mobilizing the people. They are mobilizing themselves,” she said.

“They want to be seen, they want to be heard,” she said, relaying the messages people are asking her to convey to the West. People want “the truth to be said, the condemnations to be clear,” she added, noting that no one in the country expects “any form of intervention” in Georgia’s affairs.

She also urged the West to empower civil society in Georgia. She said that decisions by Western institutions, especially within the EU, to shift financial support from the Georgian government to civil society and the media had not yet been seen in reality, and “by the time it arrives, it may be too late,” citing concerns raised by people she met before leaving for Munich. Acknowledging that the EU might not be unanimous in deciding on the toughest measures against Georgian officials, she urged individual governments that had not yet recognized the elections as unfair to do so.

Meetings

On February 14, President Salome Zurabishvili met with the Executive Director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle, and the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda. On the sideline of the conference she also had discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha.

“At MSC2025, I met with Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle to discuss recent developments in Georgia, including repressive laws and the offshore law. These developments could threaten the continued cooperation between Europol and Georgia’s law enforcement,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting.

“Discussions with President Edgars Rinkēvičs on the support of the Georgian people and their unwavering will for new, free, and fair elections. Stronger together,” Zurabishvili wrote on social media.

“I met with President Gitanas Nauseda to discuss Georgia’s situation and growing repression. Those enforcing Russia’s orders must be held accountable. Grateful for Lithuania’s support in our fight for new, free, and fair elections,” President Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting with Lithuanian President.

President Salome Zurabishvili’s meetings continue on February 15. She has met with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Joe Wilson, U.S. Representative, Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and Alar Karis, President of Estonia. Together with Giorgi Gakharia, President Zurabishvili met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset. Zurabishvili also encountered the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and HR/VP Kaja Kallas.

“Had a productive discussion with MinisterJean-Noël Barrot regarding the continued protests in Georgia. Discussed additional actions that could be taken at the national and the EU levels. Emphasized the necessity to support Georgia’s civil society and free media,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting.

“Grateful to see my great friend Legitimate President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili! Illegitimate Ivanishvili rigged an election in October and is now turning Georgia into a dictatorship. We need immediate sanctions on the regime. Free and fair elections are the only way forward!” Joe Wilson tweeted after the meeting.

“Good discussion with President Petr Pavel on the necessity of new elections in Georgia to overcome the political crisis and importance of ensuring the security and integrity of the electoral process in Georgia and other European countries to counter Russian disruptive hybrid strategies,” Zurabishvili wrote on social media after talks with her Czech counterpart.

“With Maia Sandu, I discussed the growing repressions by the GD’s regime, Russia’s hybrid tactics, and its challenges to the EU. Stressed urgent actions for Mzia Amaghlobeli’s release. Grateful for her support in our fight for freedom and a European future,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting.

“I met with Kaja Kallas and conveyed the appeals from Georgian media representatives for increased support from our partners. New free and fair elections are the only way out of crisis of Georgia,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting with HR/VP Kallas.

“I met with Alar Karis to discuss Russia’s hybrid interference in Georgia, targeting our elections and democracy. Emphasized the urgent need for new, free and fair elections,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting with the Estonian president.

On the last day of the conference, President Zurabishvili met with Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, and several lawmakers from Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Latvia.

“I met with Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International. Conveyed the letter on behalf of lawyers of illegally detained prisoners. Urged for an immediate release of Mzia Amaghlobeli. Talked about the threats facing the Georgian critical media,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting.

I met with Lia Quartapelle, Žygimantas Pavilionis, Marko Mihkelson, Pavel Fischer, and Rihards Kols to discuss the ongoing protests in Georgia and the people’s unwavering desire for new, free, and fair elections. Grateful for their support in our fight for Georgia’s European future,” Zurabishvili tweeted after the meeting.

Key Messages

“Today, Georgia is the testing ground for hybrid interference, with Russia’s special operation against Georgia’s elections and democratic order,” President Salome Zurabishvili said in a video address at the end of the second day of the conference. She stressed that this was the key message she had conveyed to Georgia’s partners and warned that the same threat looms for Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine.

She also said Georgia is preparing for elections, which she said will “undoubtedly” be announced. “And when they are scheduled, together with our partners who are already thinking about it, we must be ready to defend the elections with technologies and all the necessary means to ensure trust in them,” she said.

Zurabishvili added she brought messages to partners about prisoners, including Mzia Amaghlobeli, who has been on a hunger strike in prison for over a month and who, she said, is “an example of endurance for all of us.”

She also said that she had conveyed to partners and international media the problems facing Georgian media and called for “more attention” and “more support” from them.

“The main purpose of my presence here is to ensure that while the focus is on Ukraine and everyone is thinking about what the American administration will do and how the Europeans will act, Georgia is not forgotten. We too pose a a very big challenge to Europe and America, and to us too they must show their support and endurance that is essential for the victory of freedom, democracy and the future of Georgia and our partners,” President Zurabishvili concluded.

More to follow…

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)