The President of Georgia gave an interview to CBS News. During the interview, Salome Zourabichvili claimed that Russia is using “hybrid warfare” tactics to “test the ground” in Georgia, adding that if the EU rejects Georgia’s application, “it will be a great victory for Russia”.

She also discussed the potential risks posed by Russian immigrants in Georgia: “It’s very unnerving when in your own country you have people that are talking the language of the enemy. And that believe that they’re at home… They’re behaving and believing that they are very much at home. So there is a fine line. And that line has to be kept so that we do not have incidents in the future that would allow Russia to use their favorite doctrine of protecting Russian speaking citizens”.

The President also spoke about whether the West, and the US in particular, were responsive enough and supportive enough of Georgia at this moment.

“I don’t think so. And I will take one concrete example. I’ve been a President now for five years. And I’ve not managed… to have any form of meeting at my level, which would be the President or the Vice President even through a phone call… I understand that there are more urgent issues. But I think that some more public recognition is needed”, - she said.

When asked about the nature of this recognition, Salome Zourabichvili clarified:

“Of the fact that United States is supporting our candidate status within the European Union. I know that is the language that the U.S. has with our European partners, but that being repeated by the highest level would be meaningful for the Georgian population. The EU has laid out a list of requirements for Georgia to become a candidate for membership. The conditions include tackling corruption and lessening the economic and political influence of domestic oligarchs. A decision is expected by the end of the year”.

On the question: “What happens to Georgia if the EU denies the bid?”, the President answered: “It will be a big victory for Russia”.