“The US has real leverage in Georgia, now is the time to use it before it is too late”

Former US ambassador to Russia, diplomat Michael McFaul responded to a statement from the US embassy on Twitter, in which the embassy called Melia's arrest a deeply troubling step on the Euro-Atlantic path.

"Deep concern" is good for a start, but only for a start. Unlike Russia, China and Belarus, the United States has real leverage in Georgia. Now is the time to use it before it is too late.

Navalny's arrest was the first test. Myanmar – Second. Georgia is third. In short, Biden has promised to do more to strengthen democracy and human rights. Now is the time to put those words into action.

Biden knows Georgia. I was with him there in 2009. "It can affect the environment," – McFaul wrote.