Alexandr Vondra, a member of the European Parliament and former Defence Minister of the Czech Republic published an article in New Europe with the headline “Georgia, not Russia, deserves the support of G7 leaders.”

Based on the article, postponement of G7 meeting scheduled to take place in the United States in June may have saved some potential geopolitical missteps. The apparent invitation expected to be provided to President Vladimir Putin to join the summit would be a profound mistake.

Vonda writes that Russia is currently excluded from the G7 for extremely good reason: the aggressive military occupation of several of its neighbours, and the refusal to respect democracy, international treaties, and the right to self-determination. To this day, hundreds of thousands live under the illegal occupation of Russian troops or militias from the Donbass in Ukraine, to Crimea, to Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) in Georgia.

“Georgia has a pro-European and pro-Western government, led by the incumbent Georgian Dream party, and popular support for applying for EU and NATO membership runs at 80%. The country is democratic – Georgian Dream’s recently-proposed electoral reform has been welcomed by the EU and US both of whom were involved in the negotiations and drafting.

It is also committed to economic freedom and trade with the world. Georgia is currently implementing an Association Agreement, and DCFTA, signed with the EU. It has recently signed a Strategic Partnership & Cooperation Agreement with the UK and seeks free trade talks with the US as well. The World Bank adjudges the country as the 7^th best place in the world for business and investment.

Yet, despite (or perhaps because of?) these advance in recent years towards freedom and democracy, the Russian hostility and bullying towards Georgia continues. Earlier this year, the US, European and UK authorities revealed in a joint investigation with the Georgian authorities the details of a massive Russian cyberattack that had targeted Georgian government websites and other electronic infrastructure. Parliamentary elections are due in October 2020, and the concern must be that Russia once again – as it has even with larger nations such as the US and UK – decides to spread disinformation and fear.

As we speak, 20% of Georgia’s territory is illegally occupied by Russia. The government in Tbilisi shows admirable restraint in continuing to engage with the international talks in Geneva in an attempt to resolve the occupation peacefully and free the Georgians trapped in the occupied regions. Such de-escalation of tensions is the mature and responsible approach needed in international affairs,” Vondra said.

The author of the article says that the West needs to step up and continue to pressure the Russian state to cease and desist its attempt to interfere in other nations’ democracies. Inviting President Putin to the G7 would send exactly the wrong signal.