US Deputy Assistant Secretary “concerned” about issues with civil society, media in Georgia

“I cannot express enough our concern about what we see happening with civil society, with ISFED, with independent media here in Georgia. I am so appreciative of your presence here. Because we are great friends of Georgia, we care very much, but we cannot want it more than you do. We stand by, ready to support.” – Kara McDonald, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary stated during the Glory to Ukraine Conference in Tbilisi on Monday. 

 

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy domestic watchdog was excluded from a parliamentary working group on electoral issues by the ruling Georgian Dream party, accusing the NGO of being “politically biased”.

 

The working group was formed in June to address the 12 conditions set by the European Commission for Georgia’s European Union membership candidate status, after Georgia was granted European perspective by the EU Council and several months to address gaps for candidacy. 

 

While in Tbilisi, McDonald also commented on Russia’s war in Ukraine, stating that the Russian authorities assu,ptions were “wrong”. 

“Putin made two wrong assumptions, he did not expect the bravery of the Ukrainian people to push back, and he didn’t expect unity not just from the west but the globe. That’s the strategy for victory right there: never forget the power of people to fight for their own human dignity and freedom.” – she said. 

 

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and earlier this year, while targeting its aggression against Georgia in 2008.