Political analyst Gia Khukhashvili said on Wednesday that the United States’ “exclusion of Georgia” from recent diplomatic talks had reflected the current Georgian Dream government’s failures in managing the country’s foreign relations.
The United States has engaged with other regional players, including Turkey, Armenia, and the Baltic states, but has left Georgia out of critical discussions, he argued.
“The Americans are talking to everyone except Georgia, and Russia is sorting out the issue of Georgia in these big negotiations. This government has gotten us into this trouble,” Khukhashvili said. The analyst believes the ruling Georgian Dream party’s handling of foreign affairs had left the country marginalized, with major geopolitical decisions being made without Tbilisi’s participation.
Khukhashvili suggested that during the recent talks in Riyadh, Russian officials likely reassured their American counterparts that Georgia was under Moscow’s influence. “Imagine what was said behind closed doors – the Americans asked about Georgia, and the Russians told them, ‘we have troops in Georgia. We will sort them out,’” he explained.
Khukhashvili warned that this represented a significant shift in Georgia’s geopolitical standing, with the US and other international players taking positions that “sideline Georgian interests.” The analyst further criticized the government for allowing Russia to handle the country’s issues in major negotiations, further distancing Georgia from its Western allies.
Khukhashvili also discussed the ongoing parliamentary investigation into the activities of the previous United National Movement (UNM) government. He dismissed the investigation as a “political show” that seeks to demonize the opposition rather than pursue real accountability.
“The ruling Georgian Dream party is facing moral degradation. To regain its moral superiority, it is resorting to portraying its opponents as worse than itself,” Khukhashvili claimed. He argued that the ruling party’s focus on discrediting political opponents was a tactical response to its declining public support.
Khukhashvili also questioned the government’s selective targeting of business figures, suggesting that it was not truly concerned with punishing those who collaborated with the previous administration.
“This is not about punishing those who collaborated with past governments, but about targeting those who are disobedient today,” he said.
When discussing the opposition’s role in the investigative commission, Khukhashvili said that their participation or refusal to engage would not fundamentally change the political landscape. Rather, he emphasized the importance of a unified, strategic approach to challenging the government.
“The opposition must act collectively – either all participate or none. The commission should be rendered ineffective,” he said, criticizing the political process for lacking professionalism and predictability. He compared Georgia’s current political dynamics to an unpredictable “game of cat and mouse,” where decisions are made without clear planning or foresight.
Khukhashvili also addressed the intellectual challenges faced by the opposition, claiming that it is struggling to articulate a coherent vision for the future. “Today’s opposition resembles a driver claiming to be skilled but failing to navigate the road,” he added, calling for a more strategic and united opposition to “effectively counter” the ruling government.
