US Refuses to Participate in Tbilisi Military Parade

A small contingent of the US Army, attached to the American embassy in Tbilisi and the NATO-Georgia logistical center, has declined to participate in this year’s military parade and the oath-taking ceremony for Georgian recruits, which coincides with Georgia’s Independence Day. This decision follows statements from Georgia’s leadership accusing Washington of attempting to orchestrate a revolution in the country.

According to a report by kommersant.ru, opposition MP Tea Akubardiya announced this during a briefing at the parliament building. Akubardiya, who served as Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia from 2014 to 2017, stated that “by excluding the annual military event on May 26, the US conducted a protest demonstration” over remarks made by the honorary president of the ruling “Georgian Dream” party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and other Georgian leaders, who have accused the US of preparing for a coup.

The MP further noted that for the same reason, the US has reduced its military-technical and advisory assistance to Georgia this year, cutting it from $72 million to $55 million.