Germany backs Georgia on European path: President

Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier backed Georgia in its search for closer ties with Europe, his spokeswoman said Friday, after talks via telephone with Salome Zourabichvili, his opposite number there.

Spokeswoman Cerstin Gammelin tweeted that during their conversation, Steinmeier had told Zourabichvili: “I am grateful for your clear and strong voice for freedom and democracy. Georgians are choosing the path to Europe.

“Germany supports Georgia on the European path. This path includes the freedom of the press and of civil society.”

President Zourabichvili tweeted: “Georgia values the support expressed today by my German colleague to the European integration path of Georgia and the dedication of the Georgian people.”

Zourabichvili has been outspoken in her support for closer ties with the west and in her criticism of the government in Tbilisi, but her powers are limited.

On Thursday, she hailed the role of protesters who turned out in tens of thousands this week, forcing the government to withdraw controversial legislation that would have labelled NGOs and media outlets “foreign agents”.

Critics said the proposed law resembled legislation in Russia used to crack down on dissent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday likened the days of demonstrations against the proposed legislation in ex-Soviet Georgia to a coup attempt.