I really think that Georgia is in the trap of these two persons – Bidzina Ivanishvili and Mikheil Saakashvili, which hampers political development through more stable and normal way, – Marc Behrendt, Director for Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House, said in an interview with the Georgian bureau of Voice of America.

“It is not the biggest problem that Bidzina Ivanishvili is a shadow/informal ruler. Yes, it is not good that someone, who has not been elected, has such a big influence, but it is the reality of Georgian politics. However, I think the main problem is that Georgia has not yet overcome the perception of politics that spins around the competition between the Georgian Dream and the United National Movement – Bidzina and Misha. There are not only these two people in the country. Not only these two people have ideas about how things should develop. Georgian politics should be developed beyond these two persons.

I really think that Georgia is in the trap of these two persons – Bidzina Ivanishvili and Mikheil Saakashvili, which hampers political development through more stable and normal way. This hampers the development of rational political parties with strong ideas and platforms. We cannot hear ideological discussions, except for figurative evaluations: pro-Russian or pro-western, which I think is not right, since basically Georgia is a pro-Western country and is committed to Euro-Atlantic strategy and this is not what anyone wants to weaken,” said Marc Behrendt.

According to him, there are many questions that are not asked by the Georgian political class and this is a big problem.