^{Salome Zourabichvili. Photo}

The former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili declared herself head of state, even though her term had ended in December. She also announced that she would continue performing “presidential functions” from her new office in Tbilisi, Anadolu reports on January 9th.

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She characterized the situation in Georgia as a “deep crisis” and emphasized that the resolution lies in conducting new parliamentary elections:

Today, I would like to welcome you to this new office, which serves as an extension of the Orbeliani Palace, the official presidential residence. While it may not resemble the Orbeliani Palace, its soul and spirit are here, and the functions of the president will continue here.

Zourabichvili also revealed plans to engage with the public, starting with a visit to Zugdidi in western Georgia on January 10.

I am the president, and I will remain the president,

– she asserted.

At a briefing held in her new office on Chovelidze Street in central Tbilisi, she appeared seated in accordance with the “presidential protocol”, flanked by the Georgian and European Union flags.

Anadolu and agencies