Article

2020-02-05 Europe

Senators Warn Georgia: U.S. Will Not Tolerate Backslide Into Authoritarianism

[Free Beacon] As Georgia teeters on the brink of a backslide into authoritarianism, two senators are warning that a campaign of repression against pro-Western protesters opens the door "for increased Russian meddling in the country" and jeopardizes the historically close relationship between the United States and Georgia.

Sens. Jim Risch (R., Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.), two leading foreign policy voices in Congress, issued a letter urging Georgian prime minister Giorgi Gakharia to stop repressing pro-U.S. voices and ensure that upcoming Georgian elections are not marred by corruption. Risch and Shaheen both served in 2012 as election observers in Georgia.

The letter is the latest in a series of petitions from U.S. observers of Georgia, including House Georgia Caucus leaders and top officials on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent increasingly critical letters to Georgian leaders in recent weeks, warning that the anti-U.S. backslide imperils the country's democratic progress.

In addition to violently repressing protesters, the ruling Georgian Dream Party‐led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country's wealthiest citizen‐has targeted pro-U.S. opposition leaders to delegitimize their movement. U.S. officials are now worried that Georgia will fall back into authoritarianism nearly 30 years after it broke free of the Soviet Union.

"These events give us pause and raise questions about Georgia's commitment to our shared values," Risch and Shaheen wrote. "Further, we fear that a lack of progress on reforms and increased tensions within Georgia will only open the door for increased Russian meddling in the country and throughout the region. The longer these actions continue, the more Georgia's security will be jeopardized, and we may be forced to reevaluate our partnership."

The country's failure to enact electoral reforms and subsequent suppression of protesters are chief concerns for Risch and Shaheen.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-02-05 00:53|| || Front Page|| [11140 views ] Top

#1 A quick tip for Sens. Jim Risch (R., Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.)..... MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS and stay out of it !

Posted by Besoeker 2020-02-05 01:00|| 2020-02-05 01:00|| Front Page Top

#2 Oh, thought they were warning that fat harridan Stacey Abrams
never mind.

On topic: Yes, w Besoeker 100%. Stay the f--- out of Russia's backyard.

Stop provoking the Bear.

Posted by Lex 2020-02-05 02:11|| 2020-02-05 02:11|| Front Page Top

#3 Not more worried about Virginia?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-02-05 02:16|| 2020-02-05 02:16|| Front Page Top

#4 Uh, these are just crazy people who want to start military adventures in the Caucasus with Georgia as a convenient springboard.

Remember when they invaded South Ossetia and Russia handed them their asses in a bag?

The same people wanted to join Georgia to NATO. Yes, that's right, NATO. The one that specifically is oriented to the North Atlantic region, it says so in its charter. But if Georgia is in NATO then we're justified in using Georgia as an outpost to make even more endless war.

Posted by Herb McCoy 2020-02-05 02:27|| 2020-02-05 02:27|| Front Page Top

#5 Why should we care? Not even close to our sphere of influence or strategic goals.

Posted by DarthVader 2020-02-05 10:17|| 2020-02-05 10:17|| Front Page Top

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