The article discusses the current tensions between the United States and Georgia, driven by concerns over democratic backsliding, pressure on civil society, and inflammatory statements by ruling party officials. The US has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia and sanctioned the ruling party’s founder and honorary chairman, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
The article mentions that in May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan MEGOBARI Act, which calls for targeted sanctions against individuals in Georgia found to be undermining democratic norms. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to the Georgian Dream government as an “anti-American government” during a hearing at the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
The article also mentions that Tbilisi tried to downplay Rubio’s remarks, accusing Rep. Joe Wilson, a staunch critic of the GD government, of misleadingly framing the question to the Secretary of State by calling the Georgian Dream an “anti-American government.”
The full interview with Ambassador Robin Dunnigan was published after the initial article, in which he comments on the current state of US-Georgia relations and encourages vigilance. The article also mentions that the US ambassador praises U.S.-Georgia ties in his farewell speech.
Some key points from the article include:
* The suspension of the strategic partnership between the US and Georgia
* The sanctioning of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream ruling party
* The passing of the bipartisan MEGOBARI Act in the US House of Representatives
* The reference to the Georgian Dream government as an “anti-American government” by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
* The attempts by Tbilisi to downplay Rubio’s remarks
Overall, the article highlights the current tensions between the US and Georgia, driven by concerns over democratic backsliding and pressure on civil society.
