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Letters Gone Unheeded: New Normal of U.S.-Georgia Relations? 

New U.S. Ambassadro to Georgia Kelly Degnan holds hands with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, January 31, 2020. Photo: facebook.com/usingeo

Georgia is often cited as one of the closest partners of the United States in the region. Last decades have seen the U.S. spearheading efforts to push forward the Georgian democracy. Clearly, Georgia’s relations with its major benefactor will loom large in this year’s political agenda. 

Civil Georgia tracks down recent strains in much-valued bilateral relations. 

The backstory 

Back in November 14, 2019, ruling Georgian Dream party MPs voted down a constitutional amendment that envisaged transition to fully proportional electoral system from 2020, triggering public protest in front of the parliament. Police dispersed the protestors in a heavy-handed mannerciting attempts to take over the parliament buildingThe U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi was quick to express disappointment with ruling party’s failure to “take an important step in advancing Georgia’s democratic development and strengthening trust among political parties.” Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who co-chairs House Georgia Caucus (a parliamentary friendship group in the lower Chamber), said he was “shocked” to hear about Georgian Dream’s backtracking from its promise.   

This is where it all started  

Follow-up letters 

Who’s on the other end of the line? 

Who’s acting behind the scenes? 

Bidzina Ivanishvili. Fresh reporting suggests that former Prime Minister has sealed a deal with Hogan Lovells, a U.S. law firm, which is expected to “act solely at the direction and control” of the Georgian Dream. The firm will try to paper over the differences between Ivanishvili’s party and the Capitol Hill through lobbyism.  

New to the contact list

Ambassador Kelly Degnan. On January 29, Tbilisi welcomed newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Georgia. Her appointment brought back rumors that Georgia blocked previous U.S. nominee Bridget Brink (now Ambassador to Slovakia) because of her alleged predisposition toward former President Mikheil Saakashvili. In the Congressional hearing speech, Degnan outlined chiefly military and security considerations for her host country. Yet she too, in a diplomatic speak, pointed out fundamental importance of Georgia’s continued commitment to the principles of the rule of law and democracy.  

What featured last in the subject line

Ugulava’s imprisonmentOn February 10, the Supreme Court sent to jail Gigi Ugulava, an opposition leader, who played an active role in demanding changes in the electoral system. This time round Congressman did not turn to letters to make his opinion known. To say this is disturbing would be an understatement. Using courts as a weapon is NOT democracy,” Kinzinger tweeted.           

Learn more: Recently published report by the Heritage Foundation sums up top issues of US-Georgian relations in 2020 

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