Georgian Dream strengthened Russian influence, but failed to attract Kremlin’s direct attention, analyst

Georgian Dream did everything to strengthen Russian influence in Georgia, aiming to create favorable conditions for Russian businesses, yet they failed to draw direct interest from the Kremlin,” said Giorgi Melashvili, founder of the Europe-Georgia Institute.

He added that rebuilding relations with the West is impossible without new and fair elections. “Fair elections require the repeal of all draconian laws, depoliticization of the Central Election Commission - which has not happened so far - and only then can we discuss conducting genuinely free and fair elections,” Melashvili noted.