Georgian opposition leaders claim to advocate for pro-western future in Washington visit

A delegation from Georgia's largest opposition party, the Unity - National Movement (UNM), has begun a series of high-profile meetings in Washington, “aiming to reassure American policymakers that a pro-Western, America-oriented Georgia still exists” despite what they described as the growing influence of pro-Russian elements within their country's government.

Petre Tsiskarishvili, the Secretary General of UNM, speaking from the US capital, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with the West. "America-oriented Georgia has not disappeared, it still exists. Georgia's future is pro-Western, success-oriented, which is not in Ivanishvili's interests, because the main thing for him is to maintain his own power," Tsiskarishvili said, referring to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, whom the opposition accuses of steering the country towards Russia.

The visit comes amid rising concerns over Georgia’s geopolitical direction, with opposition leaders accusing the ruling party of abandoning the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations in favor of closer ties with Russia and Iran. Tsiskarishvili underscored the significance of the ongoing detention of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been imprisoned for nearly four years. Tsiskarishvili argued that Saakashvili’s imprisonment was a direct consequence of his “unwavering commitment” to Western values.

"Mikheil Saakashvili was the main pro-Western, pro-American leader in the region for nine years. He is being punished precisely because he was oriented only to the West, unlike Ivanishvili, who has shown a clear pro-Russian, pro-Iranian attitude," Tsiskarishvili said, adding that Saakashvili's son, Nikoloz, was part of the delegation.

The Georgian opposition leaders are expected to continue their meetings with US lawmakers and officials in other American institutions.