U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jim Risch, serving as Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a joint statement marking the one-year anniversary of protests in Georgia. The senators addressed concerns about what they describe as declining political freedoms in the country.
The statement recalls events from a year ago when protests erupted after the Georgian Dream government suspended Georgia’s process toward joining the European Union. According to Shaheen and Risch, "One year ago today Georgia entered a dark new chapter in its modern history. After promising to continue Georgia’s European integration during its campaign—supported by the vast majority of the Georgian people—the government reversed its position and violated its constitutional obligation. In response, Georgians took to the streets to demand change and demonstrate against the government’s failure to listen to its voters."
The senators further criticized actions taken by Georgian authorities over the past year: "In the year since, instead of addressing their constituents’ concerns and working with political opposition, the Georgian government instead took unprecedented steps to suppress them by passing authoritarian laws, imprisoning and moving to ban the political opposition, intimidating civil society leaders and maligning the United States and its embassy personnel."
They also noted an increase in political violence: "As political violence in Georgia has escalated, we have been increasingly concerned by the Georgian government’s crackdown on its own people and commend their perseverance in confronting it. And as Americans, we admire the Georgian people’s refusal to let go of their freedoms, no matter the cost."
Expressing long-term interest in Georgia's democratic development, Shaheen and Risch stated: "As close friends of Georgia, we have watched these political developments in Georgia for years and are deeply invested in the country’s success. The Georgian people deserve leadership that respects their right to determine their country’s future. On this somber anniversary, we call on the government to immediately reverse course, restore political freedoms in Georgia and recommit to democratic governance."
