The reset policy with the United States cannot function until Ivanishvili releases all political prisoners and stops the prosecution of media, journalists, activists, and politicians by the repressive prosecutor’s office, said Irakli Kupradze, Secretary General of “Strong Georgia – Lelo.”

He commented on the statement by Cathy LaRock, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom House, who said that the United States should not reset relations with Georgia without the release of political prisoners.

According to Kupradze, Bidzina Ivanishvili does not want cooperation with the West.

“Reset cannot happen until the violent laws of Russian origin are changed and repealed, which have restricted political, civil, and media activity. These two demands — repealing the laws and releasing political prisoners — are fundamental. Without them, there will be no reset, no matter what illusions are created for Ivanishvili by the small boys and girls around him who are actually deceiving him, leading him into a dead end, where he will end in a very serious defeat. Clearly, Ivanishvili does not want cooperation with the West. It is impossible to claim you want cooperation with the Western world, the United States, and the European Union, while at the same time insulting them, taking anti-Western decisions, and creating a policy where ambassadors are targets of attacks. Clearly, in this situation Ivanishvili has chosen a Russian–Iranian–Chinese vector. The prospect of cooperation with the European Union and the United States is dying and approaching zero,” Kupradze said.

For context, Cathy LaRock, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom House, stated that the United States should not reset relations with Georgia without the release of political prisoners.

She noted that in recent months the Georgian authorities have been signaling a desire to improve ties with the Trump administration, “however, while ‘Georgian Dream’ is working to improve relations with the United States, they have expanded ties with counterparts in China.”