US President Joe Biden has voiced criticism of the Georgian government’s recent actions, labeling them as “anti-democratic” in a letter addressed to President Salome Zourabichvili.
The letter, released by the Administration of the President of Georgia on Friday, marked the 16th anniversary of Russia’s invasion and subsequent occupation of Georgian territories.
In his message, Biden expressed his disappointment with the Georgian government’s conduct, particularly highlighting the controversial foreign agents law initiated and adopted by Georgia’s ruling party in May, and alleged inaccurate statements made by Georgian officials. He stressed that the actions were at odds with the norms required for EU and NATO membership, casting a shadow over Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
“The United States remains a firm supporter of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” Biden claimed, while reaffirming the US commitment to the Georgian people despite the troubling steps taken by their government.
Biden’s letter also paid tribute to the Georgian people’s resilience, particularly in light of the ongoing Russian occupation of one-fifth of the country. He mourned the lives lost, the injured, and those displaced by the 2008 invasion, while condemning the Kremlin’s persistent attempts to strengthen its control over the occupied regions.
Acknowledging the Georgian people’s clear commitment to a Euro-Atlantic future, Biden praised the country’s civil society for its role in upholding democratic values. “The United States welcomes the unwavering commitment of the people of Georgia to a democratic future, to which civil society contributes significantly by expressing diverse views and opinions,” he noted.
Reflecting on the 32-year bilateral relationship between Georgia and the United States, Biden emphasized the shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and human rights that have united the two nations. He expressed confidence that the values would continue to bind the peoples of Georgia and the United States in the years to come.
