Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Sports, Tea Tsulukiani, referred to the United States of America's decision to impose visa sanctions on members of the Georgian Dream as "another mistake."
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"It can be safely said that this is another mistake that, unfortunately, both for them and for us, the United States of America is making in its relations with its strategic partner. This is not the first mistake, and we should probably assume that other mistakes will be made. We hope not, but the dynamics suggest it to me personally," Tsulukiani said on Imedi TV.
As she said, this decision by the USA will further delay the day when relations between the two countries can begin to reset.
"Therefore, a mistake has been made. Of course, first and foremost, the United States of America needs to reset these relations. We will await this day because we have been and remain committed to our strategic partnership. We have never rejected the United States of America and its friendship. It is actually this government that is a problem for someone. This government, of which I have been a member for 12 continuous years, has never taken a step against our strategic partnership in any area. We will patiently await the day when our friend decides to engage with us in a friendly manner again, to refrain from financing the organization of revolutions," said Tea Tsulukiani.
Tsulukiani believes that the purpose of the US sanctions is to create and/or deepen the gap between the government and the people.
Due to the approval of the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents by the Parliament of Georgia, as well as the campaign of violence and intimidation against opponents of the law, the US State Department introduced a new visa restriction policy. On June 6, as part of this policy, dozens of Georgian citizens were sanctioned. The first part of the visa sanctions affected about 30 people, including members of Georgian Dream, MPs, employees of law enforcement agencies, and private individuals. The names of those sanctioned have not been made public.
The US is prepared to impose additional sanctions. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the Georgian government still has time to rectify the situation.
