NATO reiterated its support for Georgian sovereignty, as well as called out Russia’s occupation and actions against Georgia’s citizens. It is also noteworthy, in an apparent response to Pres Zelensky’s demand for a yes or no answer on Ukraine’s membership, that Pres Biden responded to a reporter, “It depends on whether they meet the criteria”. I think the context for this is a function of several challenges, including, Ukraine’s inconsistent effort to address official corruption and the internal backsliding of NATO member nations, such as Poland and Hungary.
Georgia should take note of this caveat, and its application to the failures of the government to depart from the nation’s history of prioritizing partisan self-interest in its law enforcement, judicial appointments, and election administration; its antagonistic approach to dissent from the media and civil society; and reliance upon an unelected oligarch over popular will, in its governance.
The Georgian opposition, particularly UNM, cannot be in the thrall of a convicted non-citizen, demand European intervention in resolving a political crisis, it helped foment by denying an internationally observed/affirmed election, and then flout European mediation efforts, and expect to be viewed as a constructive alternative. NATO membership will not solve these issues, and it falls to the political class, to work towards achieving the democratic conditions that will both serve its citizens best and facilitate NATO membership“, - Said Luis Navaro.
