We can impose sanctions on those who undermine democracy and promote corruption - Michael McFaul

Stanford University professor and former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul talks about current events in the country, the reactions of international partners and the current crisis in the program "Guest of the Day".

According to McFaul, the Biden administration has already shown that it was not afraid to impose sanctions and would not back down.

"The United States does not have the tools to spread democracy to big and authoritarian countries like China, Russia or even Iran, but Georgia is another matter. We have a long-term partnership that has included multimillion-dollar and now probably multibillion-dollar aid. We can impose sanctions on individuals who undermine democracy and promote corruption. You have all seen what Secretary Blinken did in the case of Kalamovsky in Ukraine. America must use its entire arsenal," he said.

The former US ambassador to Russia says that Russia and its president, Putin, are not interested in anything other than the defeat of democracy in Georgia and Ukraine.

"I think the people of Georgia need to understand one thing: the United States and Georgia share democratic ideals. Georgia does not have the oil or any other natural resources that America might need. Therefore, we must remain committed to those ideals. If Georgia is not a democratic state, then relations with the United States and the European Union will decline, and the people need to understand it. We are united by ideals, and if not were for that, we need to remember that America has other problems to solve, both in the world and at home. And if Georgia betrays these ideals, then the people in Washington will lose interest in Georgia," said Michael McFaul.

According to him, now there is a unique moment in the relations between the United States and Georgia, President Biden knows Georgia well, the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has also been in the country.

McFaul says that the main precondition for joining NATO is the liberal democracy established in the country, which is not the case in Georgia.