Chairman Joe Wilson and Ranking Member Steve Cohen of the US Helsinki Commission have voiced their strong support for the Georgian people amidst ongoing protests in Tbilisi and across Georgia. Citizens have taken to the streets to denounce the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s decision to suspend the country’s bid for European Union membership.
In a statement, Wilson and Cohen condemned the violent response to peaceful demonstrations, urging accountability for those violating citizens’ rights. “We condemn this response in the harshest terms possible,” they said.
The lawmakers further highlighted allegations of electoral manipulation by the Georgian Dream government, asserting that it sought to maintain its grip on power and block the public’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration. The recent seating of a new government without opposition participation or presidential sanction was described as a breach of Georgia’s constitution, rendering the administration “illegitimate.”
Wilson and Cohen called on the US government to take decisive action in support of the Georgian people’s fight for democracy. “We stand with the Georgian people and urge current and incoming administrations to support their struggle to restore democracy and freedom,” the statement read. They also demanded punitive measures against those undermining the Georgian public’s right to peaceful protest and free elections.
