Late on 30 November, the US Department of State announced the suspension of its strategic partnership with Tbilisi following the decision by the country’s pro-Russian Georgian Dream ruling party to halt the Georgia’s European Union accession process.
In a statement, Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the move, describing it as unconstitutional and a betrayal of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic commitments.
“By suspending Georgia’s EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin,” Miller stated.
The US emphasized that the Georgian people overwhelmingly support European integration, and halting the process violates their constitutional promise.
The US also criticized the excessive use of police force against peaceful protesters opposing Georgian Dream’s decision.
“We condemn the excessive use of force by police against Georgians seeking to exercise their rights to assembly and expression,” Miller added, calling for all sides to ensure protests remain peaceful.
Miller’s statement describes Georgian Dream’s actions as anti-democratic and in direct violation of the principles underpinning the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership. These principles include commitments to democracy, the rule of law, civil society, human rights, and anti-corruption efforts.
“Georgian Dream’s anti-democratic actions have violated the core tenets of our US-Georgia Strategic Partnership,” the statement said.
“As a result,” the United States has suspended this partnership mechanism, the statement says. The State Department also urged the Georgian government to return to its Euro-Atlantic path, transparently investigate parliamentary election irregularities, and repeal laws restricting freedoms of assembly and expression.
Related:
- Georgian police admit possible chemical use in water cannons as protesters report tear gas symptoms
- Georgian president refuses to step down, rallies national resistance to Russian influence
- Inside the police crackdown on Georgia’s pro-EU protests: a photo report
- Two Georgian diplomats resign in protest of governmental crackdowns
- Georgian authorities deploy unprecedented force as pro-EU protests spread nationwide
- “Don’t let them steal your future”, former Ukrainian FM addresses protests in Georgia
- Ukraine condemns violent crackdown on peaceful protests in Tbilisi
- Georgian businesses, diplomats, universities launch strikes after crackdown on pro-EU protesters
- Pro-Russian party cements victory. Can Georgia’s revolution succeed?
- Georgian authorities remove opposition protest camp amid election result disputes
- Georgia erupts as president slams Russia’s grip on disputed vote
- Georgian president calls elections “Russian special operation,” refuses to recognize results
- International observers: Georgian elections marred by pressure and intimidation
- Georgia teeters on edge as pro-Russia party claims disputed win
- Georgia’s opposition rejects parliamentary election results as pro-Russian ruling party claims victory with 54%
