US suspends strategic partnership with Georgia

US flag. Photo: Getty Images

The United States has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia following the Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend the country’s EU accession process.

Source: US State Department statement

Quote: “The decision by Georgian Dream to suspend Georgia’s EU accession process goes against the promise to the Georgian people enshrined in their constitution to pursue full integration into the European Union and NATO.  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…

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Georgian Dream’s various anti-democratic actions have violated the core tenets of our U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership, which was based on shared values and commitments to democracy, rule of law, civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts.  As a result, the United States has suspended this mechanism.”

Details: The statement said that the Georgian people overwhelmingly support integration with Europe.

The United States condemned “the excessive use of force by police against Georgians seeking to exercise their rights to assembly and expression, including their freedom to peacefully protest”. The United States called on “all sides to ensure protests remain peaceful”.

“We reiterate our call to the Georgian government to return to its Euro-Atlantic path, transparently investigate all parliamentary election irregularities, and repeal anti-democratic laws that limit freedoms of assembly and expression,” the State Department said in a statement.

Background:

• On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership “until the end of 2028”. Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision. President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people.
• On the evening of Thursday, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas.
• The protest continued on Friday evening, and police again resorted to violence against the protesters.
• On Saturday, protests resumed in Georgia against the decision of the Georgian Dream to abandon negotiations on joining the European Union. The protests are taking place at several locations in Tbilisi, including near the Georgian parliament and the building of the Georgian public broadcaster. In addition to Tbilisi, protests are taking place in Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi and Telavi, with demonstrations planned in Kvareli and Gurjaani.

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