**Georgia’s Former President Sounds Alarm on Restoration of Ties with Russia**
In a recent Facebook post, Mikheil Saakashvili, the third President of Georgia, has made some startling claims about the intentions behind the government’s recent overtures towards the United States. Saakashvili, known for his outspoken views on Georgian politics and foreign policy, is accusing the current government, led by the party Georgian Dream, of secretly working to normalize relations with Russia.
**Anti-American Course**
According to Saakashvili, Georgian Dream has been pursuing an anti-American course since 2012. This stance, he claims, is driven by a desire to improve ties with Russia, which has long been Georgia’s nemesis. The former President notes that the current government’s actions are not aimed at genuinely improving relations with the US, but rather as a strategic move to eventually restore diplomatic relations with Moscow.
**A Letter to Moscow**
Saakashvili’s comments come in response to an open letter written by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Saakashvili argues that this letter is, in fact, a message addressed to Moscow, not Washington. He claims that the real goal of Georgian Dream is to prepare for the eventual annexation of Georgia by Russia.
**Release of Political Prisoners**
Saakashvili also makes reference to conditions set by the Trump administration for normalizing relations between the US and Georgia. These conditions include the release of all political prisoners, a move that Saakashvili sees as a thinly veiled attempt to appease Moscow rather than genuinely improve ties with Washington.
**Implications and Analysis**
Saakashvili’s comments highlight the deep-seated tensions within Georgian politics, particularly between the current government and the country’s pro-Western factions. If true, the alleged plans to restore diplomatic relations with Russia would have far-reaching implications for Georgia’s sovereignty and security.
In a broader context, Saakashvili’s words also speak to the complex geopolitics of the region, where great powers are jockeying for influence and smaller countries like Georgia are often caught in the middle. The implications of this scenario will be closely watched by observers around the world.
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