UNM opposition accuses government of leaving country ‘without friends’ after US declines UN statement

Tina Bokuchava, chair of the United National Movement (UNM), has accused the ruling Georgian Dream government of isolating the country internationally after the United States declined to join a statement at the United Nations on the 2008 Russia - Georgia war.

In her comments on Wednesday, Bokuchava said it was the first time in 17 years that Washington had not endorsed Georgia’s position following closed-door discussions at the UN Security Council.

In a post on social media, she described the move as proof that “Georgian diplomacy is dead,” alleging that billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili’s “Russian regime” had alienated the country’s main strategic partner while drawing closer to Moscow, Beijing and Tehran.

Bokuchava said the US decision was a “direct result” of the government portraying America as an enemy while seeking praise from Russia. She pointed to comments by Russian deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy, who recently commended Tbilisi for its “wise” policies and noted that Georgia had become Russia’s second-largest trading partner, with record numbers of Russian tourists visiting the country.

“This is Putin’s dream - Georgia left alone, in international isolation, without allies or strategic partners,” Bokuchava wrote, insisting that the Georgian people would ultimately “restore national dignity” and reverse the government’s course.