The Chairman of the Georgian-American Republican Alliance (GARA USA), Nikoloz Chkheidze, has expressed his support for Ukrainian-born Svetlana Zelinskaya, who is running for the chairmanship of the Brooklyn Republican Party in New York.

Svetlana Zelinskaya is the founder and president of the non-governmental organization “Brooklyn New Wave Civic Coalition.”

As Chkheidze told Accent, “My support for Svetlana Zelinskaya is not merely a political decision — it is a symbolic step that reflects the long-standing friendship, shared values, and mutual solidarity between the Georgian and Ukrainian diasporas in the United States.”

According to him, the Georgian-American Republican Alliance maintains a principled approach when it comes to assessing leadership and values.

“Svetlana Zelinskaya stands out for her strength and unwavering commitment to the ideals that form the foundation of our community’s development. As an immigrant who has personally faced many challenges and achieved success, she clearly understands the needs of our diverse society. We fully support her,” Chkheidze stated in his interview with Accent.

As for the Alliance itself, Chkheidze notes that the Georgian-American Republican Alliance is the first Georgian political organization established in the United States.

He emphasizes that the Alliance’s mission is not only to unite the Georgian diaspora, but also to deepen cooperation with American society and advocate for the interests of the Georgian state on the international stage.

He also adds that one of the organization’s key goals is to see more Georgian-born individuals actively involved in American politics.

“Last year, our organization participated in the New York State Assembly and Senate elections. Two of the candidates we supported won their races. This year, we took part in the City Council elections, where our supported team member also won. It is also worth noting that members of our organization serve on New York’s election commission,” Chkheidze stated.

Future Plans

According to Chkheidze, the organization has a long-term vision, which includes:

• Strengthening ties with U.S. lawmakers and political institutions – with the goal of ensuring high-level support for Georgia’s independence, territorial integrity, and democratic development within the U.S. government.

• Engaging the next generation – the Alliance places strong emphasis on educating young Georgian-Americans, raising their political awareness, and encouraging their involvement in civic and public life.

• Expanding public diplomacy efforts – by working more actively with the media, universities, NGOs, and think tanks in order to raise awareness about Georgia among the American public.