Your article (British teen on Georgia drug charges could give birth in prison after plea bargain, 28 Ocober) refers to Georgia as “the former Soviet republic”. Isn’t it about time for the Guardian to recognise the republic of Georgia as an independent sovereign nation?
This quaint terminology only flatters the current Russian president that as a “former Soviet republic”, Georgia, along with Ukraine and all the other “formers”, exercises a quasi-sovereignty that is subject to limitations arbitrarily imposed by its Russian superiors. (Russia already occupies about 20% of the territory the world recognises as belonging to Georgia.)
Should you continue to persist in this usage, perhaps the Guardian might also begin referring to Britain as “the former Roman province”?
Paul Heineman
Rockville, Maryland, US
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