Georgia’s former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned earlier this year and founded a new political party For Georgia back in May 2021, has held meetings in the US to raise awareness of his party and discuss various issues with American officials and experts.
Gakharia has met with George Kent, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and Director of the National Security Council's Eastern Europe and Caucasus Department Chris Smith.
The intentions of the For Georgia party, reforms and the 2021 municipal elections were discussed at the meeting.
It was great to meet and talk with IRI's Vice President @smastic and Regional Director @stephennix today.
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) June 22, 2021
I expressed my gratefulness for IRI's outstanding work in Georgia and presented #ForGeorgia's plans. pic.twitter.com/VMHmw9bJs1
Gakharia and Kara McDonalds, who serves as the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor have discussed challenges for Georgia’s democratic development, human rights and corruption issues.
Gakharia and McDonalds praised the progress Georgia has achieved so far and discussed the steps which should be taken for the country’s further democratic advancement,” said Gakharia’s press office.
Yesterday Gakharia met with the President of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Carl Gershman, which is the US government agency founded back in 1983 to promote democracy abroad and Miriam Lanskoy, a senior director for Russia and Eurasia at NED.
Challenges for human rights and democracy and in the judiciary field were discussed at the meeting.
While in the US Gakharia has also met with IRI officials and expert Lincoln Mitchell.