"The de-facto Georgian government has shed all pretense of democracy and has now started arresting innocent activists and peaceful members of the opposition in their homes and places of work. Make no mistake: Georgian Dream is using Kremlin-style dictatorial tactics," stated Republican Congressman and Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson.
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Wilson, who is being considered for the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairmanship, has called on the State Department to sanction Georgian officials.
“The U.S. government must respond to punish those involved in perpetrating violence and brutality against innocent Georgians immediately. If we do not act now, the Georgian Dream will continue escalating their campaign of violence and brutality to levels we have not seen in the country in decades.
The Department of State should begin by announcing personal sanctions against the mayor of Tbilisi, the Minister of the Interior, and all other officials responsible for orchestrating this crackdown. I call on our European allies to do the same,” Wilson said, urging the United States' European allies to follow suit.
Shortly after the Republican congressman’s statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the "cruel and unjustified violence" perpetrated by the Georgian Dream. Blinken announced that the U.S. is preparing additional sanctions, emphasizing that those who undermine democratic processes or institutions in Georgia will be held accountable.
