US State Department: The Georgian authorities’ anti-Western rhetoric puts Georgia on a precarious trajectory

The U.S. condemns the legislation on transparency of foreign influence, which got its second reading in the Parliament of Georgia, noting that it threatens Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration. According to Armenpress, the U.S. Department of State issued a press statement on this.

The State Department notes that the legislation was inspired by the Kremlin, and aims “to silence critical voices and destroy Georgia’s vibrant civil society”.

“This legislation and Georgian Dream’s anti-Western rhetoric put Georgia on a precarious trajectory. The statements and actions of the Georgian government are incompatible with the democratic values that underpin membership in the EU and NATO and thus jeopardize Georgia’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration,” reads the statement.

As noted, Western assistance to Georgia for the development of the economy and democracy of the country—which has been provided for 32 years—is being mischaracterized by Tbilisi, and this “fundamentally undermines the strong relationship we have developed with the government and people of Georgia”.

The State Department also condemned “the use of violence against peaceful protests, including against journalists covering the demonstrations”, and called on the Georgian authorities “to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression”.