US Senators Risch and Shaheen express deep concern over Georgian Gov’t’s ‘persecution of its own people’

Senior members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, issued a joint statement marking one year since the start of continuous protests in Georgia, expressing growing alarm over what they describe as the Georgian Government’s escalating repression of its citizens.

“We are increasingly concerned by the Georgian Government’s persecution of its own people and admire the resilience of the Georgian public. The people of Georgia deserve leadership that respects their right to determine their country’s future,” the statement reads.

According to the senators, November 2024 marked “a dark new chapter” in Georgia’s modern history. They recalled that although the ruling party campaigned on promises to advance European integration - supported by the overwhelming majority of Georgians - it later reversed course and violated its constitutional commitments.

In response, citizens took to the streets demanding change and protesting what they viewed as the Government’s disregard for voters’ voices.

The statement says that over the past year, instead of engaging with the public and cooperating with the political opposition, the Georgian Government has taken “unprecedented steps” to suppress dissent. These include adopting authoritarian laws, arresting and banning opposition figures, intimidating civil society leaders, and spreading disinformation against the United States and embassy staff.

“Due to the escalating political violence in Georgia, we are increasingly alarmed by the Government’s persecution of its own people and deeply value the resilience shown by Georgians. As Americans, we are inspired by the Georgian people’s refusal to surrender their freedom at any cost,” the senators said.

Risch and Shaheen highlighted that as close friends of Georgia who have closely followed the country’s political developments for years, they remain committed to its democratic success.

They called on the Georgian Government to “immediately change course, restore political freedoms and return to democratic governance”.