Dafna RAND, Assistant Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, spoke about the influence Russia has over Georgia and its possible impact on the upcoming election.
Rand spoke at a discussion organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Atlantic Council about Russia’s efforts to weaken democracy, especially in its neighbors. She also noted that Moscow had the ruling party of Georgia’s back while the latter used similar oppressive measures such as the “foreign agent’s law”.
Rand also emphasized that, while a fair win of the “Georgian Dream” is not necessarily a problem, the limitation on political competition that results can be. She also stated that 80% Georgians want to join the EU while Russia is restricting these efforts to bring the country back to its realm.
The U.S. Assistant secretary said, “I’ll stop speaking about Georgia now, but I think you’ve got the main idea that we’re concerned, and that the US government, as well the US Congress, is watching [the elections] at the highest levels.”
Read More @ georgiatoday.ge