The United States has issued sanctions targeting Georgia ahead of the October parliamentary elections, a move that Georgian parliamentary majority member Givi Mikanadze characterizes as interference by a foreign power in the country’s electoral process. In a briefing, Mikanadze argued that external actions during an election cycle can skew the political playing field and influence how Georgians think about the choices before them. He also noted that such measures are meant to shape the will of Georgian voters, adding that the timing of the sanctions makes the impact more palpable for those evaluating candidates and policies. The discussion underscores a broader concern within Georgian politics about external pressure during a crucial democratic moment, and it places the issue within a wider conversation about sovereignty, national institutions, and the integrity of the electoral process. This framing has been echoed by other lawmakers who see these sanctions as part of a coercive strategy, even as officials stress the need to keep mindset focused on domestic priorities and the voice of the electorate.
