Georgia is also among the most pro-American and democratic states in Eastern Europe – reads the analytical article “Georgia at a crossroads” published by The Washington Times. The author of the article is J. Adam Ereli, who served as U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain and deputy State Department spokesman.

According to the article, the nation faces continued Russian threats and aggression while it solidifies its Western pivot embracing pro-growth economic policies and strengthening its democratic institutions.

U.S. support for Georgia remains unwavering, an essential backstop in a geography strategically significant to Western interests. “Linking the Caspian, Aegean and Mediterranean basins, Georgia’s multiple Black Sea ports serve as vital transport links between Eurasia and the Atlantic. Georgia sits at the nexus of energy flows from the Caspian Sea region to the West. As a result of its position at the center of the New Silk Road and East-West trading corridors, Georgia has emerged as a focal point of great power competition,” reads the article.

The article says that Georgia witnessed a peaceful transfer of power by the ballot box in 2012, and it has held free and fair elections since. Georgia receives high marks in virtually all indices of transparency, rule of law, media freedom, development of political party development and accountability. But it also mentions the Georgian parliament’s turning down the constitutional changes regarding transformation onto proportional system of elections for 2020 parliamentary polls.

“About a month ago, the Georgian Parliament failed to pass the law to change the electoral system from the current mixed one (majority and proportionate) to a purely proportionate representation, something that the ruling bloc Georgian Dream promised the opposition last summer.

Political conflict between the majority and the opposition triggered demonstrations in the capital Tbilisi, sometimes violent. The Georgian Dream promised to transition the country to the proportionate representation by 2024, but is demanding a dialogue with the opposition, not violence, that only benefits Russia,” reads the article.