Daniel Fried: Deepening Georgia's isolation might even be "Dream's" goal – I support halting aid to the government and back sanctions
I support halting aid to the government, I back the sanctions that have been imposed, and perhaps more should be imposed against additional high-ranking officials. I also support Salome Zurabishvili, who has a firm political stance and, unlike her so-called successor, has legitimacy. This was stated by Daniel Fried, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, in an interview with "Voice of America."
He noted that he understands the arguments of Georgian democrats and pro-democracy Georgians regarding the current government's illegitimacy.
"I support halting aid to the government, I back the sanctions that have been imposed, and perhaps more should be imposed against additional high-ranking officials. I truly understand the arguments of Georgian democrats and pro-democracy Georgians regarding the current government's illegitimacy. I also support Salome Zurabishvili, who has a firm political stance and, unlike her so-called successor, has legitimacy. I understand that. However, I want to urge the audience not to view recognition as the sole measure and tool of external support," said Daniel Fried.
Fried explained that Georgia's future does not depend on what the West does but rather on what the Georgian people will do.
"There are other ways to support Georgia's democratic movement, and America and Europe have extensive experience in this regard. Georgia's future does not depend on what we do in the West; it depends on what the Georgian people do. So far, over these many weeks, the Georgian people have demonstrated such dedication and courage that I am sure has surprised 'Georgian Dream' and probably Moscow as well," Daniel Fried stated.
According to Fried, there is a legitimacy crisis in Georgia.
"There is a legitimacy crisis in Georgia. The 'Georgian Dream' government seems perversely determined to deepen Georgia's isolation, and that might even be their goal. It would certainly be Moscow's goal to isolate the Georgian government and, by doing so, bring Georgia further under Moscow's control and dependence," Daniel Fried explained.
