Armenia and Georgia may become models for democratic development in the wider region, the ex-EU ambassador to Armenia and Georgia Denis Corboy, the ex-US ambassador to Kazakhstan William Courtney and the ex-US ambassador to Belarus and Georgia Kenneth Yalowitz said in the article on National Interest.

According to the authors, both countries seek to consolidate democratic gains and overcome poverty, while at the same time solving complex problems, starting with Russia and ending with conflicts.

“Even as the West keeps its primary focus on Russian aggression in Ukraine, it can encourage positive developments in the two South Caucasus countries.

Georgia in 2003 and Armenia last year underwent cathartic popular uprisings via the Rose and Velvet revolutions. Frustration with entrenched politics and poor living standards helped spark public demonstrations and political changes that brought reformist leaders to power,” the source noted.

According to them, political factors explain some economic weakness of the two countries.

“So far Moscow has not intervened to stifle Armenia’s fledging democratic groundswell. Pashinyan has been careful to emphasize that treaty links with Russia remain firm and that his country’s economic orientation is still toward the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union. The Kremlin has, however, expressed disquiet over corruption proceedings against former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan. Moscow does not want Armenia to move toward Georgia’s westward-leaning foreign policy arc,” the article said.

According to them, in Baku, thousands demonstrated on behalf of jailed anticorruption blogger Mehman Huseynov and other political prisoners, raising a question whether democratic gains in Armenia and Georgia are having an influence in Azerbaijan.

“Armenia and Georgia have a good deal of work to do to deepen reforms that will strengthen their democracies and improve living standards.

While pursuing these priorities, the countries deserve continued, strong Western support. Armenia and Georgia could become models for democratic development elsewhere in the wider region, and the South Caucasus is growing in importance as a strategic and energy crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, and Eurasia,” the source said.