US economic interest in Georgia depends on democratic standards, opposition leader

Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, has said the return of United States economic engagement in Georgia hinged on the country’s democratic environment.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Gvaramia argued that countries with political prisoners, compromised elections and widespread corruption are unlikely to attract Western - particularly US -  economic interest.

“It is regrettable that Georgia is being discussed alongside countries like Cuba and Venezuela,” he said, referring to recent remarks by Marco Rubio about how economic interests intersect with democratic conditions.

“I would welcome the return of economic and broader engagement from the United States, but this comes at a price - democracy on the ground. Where there are political prisoners, where elections are undermined and corruption is widespread, there is no place for Western economic interest,” Gvaramia added.