‘Foreign policy by insult’

That’s how Ian Kelly, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Georgia, reacted to statements by Erika Olson, present Deputy Assistant Secretary (Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs), who said Washington is “worried that (Georgian) government actions have eroded some of the democratic process.”

“Foreign policy by insult,” Kelly said in a Tweet.

Kakha Kaladze, mayor of Tbilisi, was more direct than was the former ambassador. “What the hell is deputy assistant?” Kaladze remarked to Georgia Journal. “Deputy assistant? I did not know there is such a position.”

Anri Okhanashvili, chairman of the Legal Issues Committee of Georgian Parliament, also took umbrage with Olson’s remarks, saying, “I would like her to name a specific international legal act, a specific norm, which contradicts this reform. … The issue is as follows - when you criticize something, that criticism should be based on a specific fact and argument.”

https://georgianjournal.ge/politics/37560-tbilisi-mayor-mocks-us-dep-official.html

Here is a link to a story on Ms. Olson’s visit. The story might as well have been a press release from the U.S. State Department.

https://georgianjournal.ge/politics/37474-us-deputy-assistant-secretary-erika-olson-visits-georgia.html

Diplomats are not supposed to insult the people they visit. Even a deputy assistant secretary should know that. Ms. Olson could have picked up some pointers had she watched the cancelled CBS drama Madam Secretary.