More than 200 people gathered in Piazza San Babila, Milan, to show solidarity with the Georgian community and with Georgia’s aspirations for democracy and freedom, at a time when the Country was beginning negotiations to join the European Union.
“Today is an important day for Georgia, as the Georgian Dream party, operating within an illegal parliament (resulting from irregular elections), has elected former pro-Putin footballer Kevalashvili as president in an attempt to oust the democratically elected, pro-European President Zourabichvili. The President has announced that she will remain in office, as she deems the elections held last October to be illegitimate. Several international organizations have already confirmed the electoral fraud. It is our duty to stand by the Georgian community,” said Federica Valcauda and Igor Boni from *Europa Radicale*.
“We have made two simple requests to our government: to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, to refrain from recognizing the new Georgian government and to suspend any ongoing bilateral agreements; and to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, to advocate at the Council of Europe for new elections to be held, with an independent body (such as the OSCE) overseeing the process, and to help fund this initiative. These are straightforward and achievable requests. Long live a European Georgia!” they added.
The demonstration, organized by the Georgian community, *Europa Radicale*, and *Ponte Atlantico*, was also attended by MPs Benedetto Della Vedova of *+Europa* and Ivan Scalfarotto of *Italia Viva*. Messages of support were read on behalf of MP Marco Osnato from *Fratelli d’Italia*, Lia Quartapelle from the *Partito Democratico (PD)*, and MEP Pierfrancesco Maran from *PD*. Numerous associations participated in the event, including UAA.Mi, the Enzo Tortora Radicali Milano Association, the Certi Diritti Radical Association, and the Foreign Affairs Representative of the Young Democrats.
This gathering highlighted a united call for respect for democratic processes and the safeguarding of Georgia’s European future.
