US imposes visa bans on dozens of Georgian citizens, including ruling party members
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Front News Georgia
The United States has imposed visa bans on dozens of Georgian citizens, according to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. The first tranche of visa restrictions includes members of the Georgian Dream ruling party, members of parliament, law enforcement officers, and private individuals, he said on Thursday.
Miller noted that this initial set of visa restrictions will cover between 24 to 34 individuals.
“The United States remains deeply concerned about the anti-democratic actions of the Georgian Dream Party, as well as its recent statements and rhetoric. These actions pose the risk of deviating from the European future of Georgia and are against the Constitution of Georgia and the will of its people,” said Miller.
Secretary of State Blinken recently announced a comprehensive review of all types of bilateral relations between the US and Georgia. As part of this review, the State Department has adopted a new visa ban policy, the official said.
“Today, as part of this policy, we are taking steps to impose visa bans on dozens of Georgian citizens. This includes individuals (as well as their immediate family members) who are responsible for or complicit in undermining Georgia’s democracy through actions such as undermining the right to peaceful assembly and expression, attacking peaceful demonstrators, intimidating civil society representatives, and intentionally spreading disinformation at the behest of the Georgian government. This first tranche of visa restrictions includes members of the Georgian Dream party, members of parliament, law enforcement officers, and private individuals,” said Miller.
He stressed the US hoped that Georgian leaders would reconsider their actions.
“We hope that the leaders of Georgia will reconsider their actions and take steps to move forward on the long-desired Euro-Atlantic and democratic path of their country. However, if they do not do this, the United States is ready to take additional actions,” Miller added.
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