US Senators Shaheen, Risch voice concern over Georgia’s political situation

US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jim Risch (R-ID), senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have issued a joint statement expressing “deep “concern over the “deteriorating political situation” in Georgia following the country’s October 4 local elections and an opposition rally.

“We are increasingly concerned by the deteriorating political situation in Georgia and the troubling actions taken by the Georgian government following recent local elections,” the senators said.

The statement condemned Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s decision to “outlaw opposition parties and jail their leaders”, describing it as “egregious, undemocratic and yet another indication that Georgian Dream is wholly uninterested in pursuing a path toward normalized political dialogue.”

The senators also denounced alleged politically motivated investigations and the intimidation of civil society leaders, especially those who have worked with the US government or testified before Congress, calling it “an attempt to silence dissent in a country with a proud history of speaking truth to power.”

“It is also unacceptable that the Georgian government has targeted former US government employees by making baseless allegations that they are undermining Georgia’s government,” the statement continues. “Let us be clear: it is the Georgian Dream, not the United States, that is undermining Georgia’s democracy and their ability to determine their future.”

Senators Shaheen and Risch welcomed the US State Department’s decision to summon the Georgian Ambassador to discuss what they described as “disturbing developments,” and urged the Trump administration to take Georgia’s recent government actions into account before pursuing any changes to bilateral relations.

“We extend our unwavering, bipartisan support to the Georgian people who simply wish to claim their right to self-determination,” the senators concluded.