Three U.S. senators have condemned the violence against peaceful protesters in Tbilisi, stating that the Georgian government must be held accountable to both its own people and the international community.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Protests Erupt in Abkhazia Over Russia-Favored Law, Opposition Members Arrested
- 2 Kobakhidze: German Chancellor Should Be More Concerned About His Own Problems
- 3 Judge of Tetritskaro Annuls Results of 30 Precincts Over Vote Secrecy Violations
- 4 President’s Lawsuit on Elections Registered by Constitutional Court
- 5 Nauseda: Extensive Russian Interference Casts Doubt on Election Legitimacy
- 6 Stopped Chiatura: Who Buys Georgian Manganese Assets for 100 GEL?
A joint statement by Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Calif.) and senior Republicans Roger Wicker and John Cornyn (R-N.C.) stated that the Georgian Dream’s decision to withdraw from EU accession talks is a serious betrayal of the clear and credible aspiration of the Georgian people to embrace European values and institutions.
The senators expressed their support for the Georgian people, who are “peacefully defend their democratic and European aspirations against the violent repression by the Georgian Dream party,”
“This is not the conduct of a government committed to democratic reforms and pluralism but of an insecure regime dragging Georgia toward Russian-style autocracy. These actions flagrantly violate international democratic norms and undermine the legitimate aspirations of the Georgian people.”
We strongly condemn the violence unleashed against peaceful protesters – tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, beatings, and mass arrests have no place on the streets of Tbilisi.
Georgian authorities responsible for human rights abuses and the erosion of democratic principles must face accountability from their own people and the international community. The Georgian people’s sacrifices for Euro-Atlantic integration demand our continued solidarity and action,” the senators said in their statement.
On November 28, Georgia’s illegitimate Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would not put the issue of opening accession negotiations on the agenda until the end of 2028 and would refuse EU budget grants.
The protests that followed the decision of the Georgian Dream were brutally dispersed by police forces. Tear gas, water cannons, and other special means were used against the protesters, and rubber bullets were also allegedly employed. Since November 28, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has detained more than 300 demonstrators, most of whom were beaten by special forces.
The U.S. State Department has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia due to the anti-democratic actions of the Georgian Dream. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, “this cannot have any principled significance.” The Georgian Dream government intends to discuss this issue with the Donald Trump administration.
