Former US State Department official Matthew Bryza says the sanctions imposed on Georgia’s government are a warning. He spoke with the Georgian service of “Voice of America.”
Bryza said the US is unhappy with the Georgian Dream government. The government claimed that elections were about joining the EU, but then suspended talks with the EU. This was not what most people wanted.
The US sanctions are just visa restrictions for now. They do not freeze assets or take any financial action against the government. Bryza said this is a “symbolic” move to show the US’s displeasure with the government.
He also criticized the Georgian Prime Minister for suspending EU talks. He said this was either poor judgment, arrogance, or a provocation. The Prime Minister should know that decisions like this can have big consequences, like they did in Ukraine.
Bryza said the US is waiting to see how things develop before taking further action. He also mentioned that the incoming US administration may take a different approach.
He emphasized the importance of the EU’s stance on Georgia. He said that if the EU shows it does not support the government, this will have more impact than anything the US does.