US imposes further visa restrictions on Georgian officials
- 13 December, 10:58
The United States has imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials responsible for undermining democracy in the South Caucasus republic.
"The Department of State is announcing additional action today under the visa restriction policy that prohibits visa issuance to those who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Georgia," the State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press statement on Thursday, December 12.
Miller condemned ruling Georgian Dream party’s “ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures.” Stressing that the ruling party has turned away from Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, Miller stated that “the US is committed to seeing that senior officials responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy will be subject to visa restrictions.”
“We want to see a strong, prosperous, and democratic Georgia firmly integrated in the Euro-Atlantic community. Our actions today demonstrate US resolve and add to previously announced actions implicating more than 100 Georgian Dream-affiliated individuals and their family members,” the statement concluded.
The strong-worded statement follows State Department’s decision on November 30 to suspend its strategic partnership with Georgia in response to Georgian Dream’s decision to halt talks on the country’s EU accession. The surprise decision to suspend until the end of 2028 the EU integration talks spiked mass anti-government protest that are still ongoing.
