For the first time in 10 years, we on the British side have decided to freeze the annual high-level "Wardrop Dialogue" between ministers. This is the first time since the dialogue format was established. We also canceled the planned high-level talks between the defense staff and suspended the new cyber security program, - UK Ambassador Gareth Ward said in an exclusive interview with InterpressNews.

The ambassador expressed hope that after the elections the Georgian government will return to the pro-Western course and trust between the parties will be restored.

"I had expected that we would work together to strengthen Georgia's resilience and our common prosperity, but over the past year the Georgian government has chosen a different course, and during my first months in Tbilisi I had to make clear our concerns about the decline of democracy and anti-Western rhetoric. I hope that the Georgian government will change its approach, which will allow me to regain optimism.

Relations between Great Britain and Georgia, as well as with other Western partners, have been damaged by the steps taken by the Georgian government this year. We were concerned when the parliament passed a law restricting the activities of civil society, even though it saw a lot of opposition from the public and committed itself not to put this law back on the agenda. We were disappointed when the leaders of Georgian Dream began to promote conspiracy theories and make assumptions that Western partners are undermining Georgia. We were shocked when "Georgian Dream" named the banning of opposition parties as a promise of its election program.

For these reasons, for the first time in 10 years, we, the British side, have decided to freeze the annual high-level "Wardrop Dialogue" between ministers. This is the first time since the dialogue format was established. We also canceled planned high-level talks between the defense chiefs and put a new cyber security program on hold. After the elections, regardless of who is in government, we hope to see clear evidence of a return to the Euro-Atlantic path to rebuild trust and return to a close partnership," the UK ambassador said. 

According to him, the relations between Great Britain and Georgia, as well as with other western partners, were damaged by the steps taken by the Georgian government this year.

"Great Britain is not directly involved in the process of joining Georgia to the European Union, but we support this aspiration and the reforms that are necessary to achieve this goal. Great Britain is a leading ally of NATO and has always actively supported Georgia's accession to NATO. Great Britain and Romania act as NATO contact embassies in Georgia. Britain also conducts a wide range of military exercises and contributes to the development of Georgia's defense capabilities, but NATO is not only a military alliance, it is also a political union. Accordingly, in order to join NATO, it is important for Georgia to fulfill its obligations in the direction of free courts, human rights protection and parliamentary supervision.

That is why the Secretary General of NATO expressed his concern regarding the adoption of the law "On transparency of foreign influence". On the road to NATO, it is inappropriate to take measures that undermine democracy and human rights.

Relations between Great Britain and Georgia, as well as with other Western partners, have been damaged by the steps taken by the Georgian government this year. We were concerned when the parliament passed a law restricting the activities of civil society, even though it saw a lot of opposition from the public and committed itself not to put this law back on the agenda. We were disappointed when the leaders of Georgian Dream began to promote conspiracy theories and make assumptions that Western partners are undermining Georgia. "We were shocked when "Georgian Dream" named the banning of opposition parties as a promise of its election program," the British dipolomat noted.

Regarding the "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law, the British diplomat explained what problems Western partners see in the said law.

"We have clearly stated that the law on "transparency of foreign influence" harms non-governmental organizations and free media in Georgia. "It is disproportionate and stifles freedom of speech, as well as stigmatizes those who do good work for society," he said.

The ambassador also criticized the so-called Also the anti-LGBT propaganda bill.

"The package of laws "On Family Values ​​and Protection of Minors" discriminates against minorities and restricts freedom of expression. In my experience, Georgia is a tolerant society with active non-governmental organizations, and these laws are against that, as well as our common European values, which are reinforced by the Council of Europe," the ambassador stated.