Strategy’s Vashadze: We will do everything to change regime and restore relations with United States

“Georgia’s American partners are fully and comprehensively informed on every matter unfolding in the country. No one will be able to spin these meetings as though any kind of normalisation is possible or in the offing,” Giorgi Vashadze, one of the leaders of the Opposition Alliance, declared following a meeting with Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America (USA) for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Vashadze further maintained that the key to resolving the problems lies in Georgia itself, not in Washington or Brussels.

“Our position is unequivocal. The task of the democratic opposition, including the Opposition Alliance, is to return Georgia to the Euro-Atlantic development path and to restore the severed ties with the West. But we see with absolute clarity that under this regime, such a course is impossible. I believe our American partners see this very clearly as well.

At the same time, we must understand that a strong Georgia needs strong friends in the form of America and Europe. We will do everything in our power not only to change this regime but to restore that relationship with the utmost urgency. That was our unambiguous message at this meeting. Needless to say, they are fully apprised of everything happening in the country; no one will be able to use these meetings to suggest that the processes currently underway in Georgia can somehow be normalised. They see with great clarity the grave situation of democracy and the rule of law. I say again: the key to resolving this country’s problems lies within Georgia itself. I see that Georgian Dream is attempting to suggest that the key lies in Washington and Brussels, but I say to them once more: the key is in Georgia. So long as this regime continues to visit violence upon its own people and sows injustice in every corner and aspect of life, it is simply impossible for the situation in this country to be normalised,” Vashadze stated.

The meeting, held at the Tbilisi Marriott, brought together the leaders of Lelo–Strong Georgia, Gakharia for Georgia, and the Opposition Alliance. Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Alan Purcell, also attended the meeting.