After Meeting with Georgian Government Officials and Civil Society Organizations, Shaheen and Turner Return from Leading Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Delegation to Georgia Following Passage of Foreign Agents Law

**Shaheen and Turner reaffirmed America’s bipartisan support for the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and Georgia’s territorial integrity**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations, Armed Services and Appropriations Committees and Chair of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH), Chair of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, returned from leading a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional delegation to Georgia. During their visit, Senator Shaheen and Chair Turner met with the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani to once again raise concerns about democratic backsliding following the passage of the foreign agents law and anti-Western rhetoric and communicate the United States’ commitment to its longstanding partnership with Georgia to achieve a Euro-Atlantic future, including by facilitating a free and fair election in October. Marking the 16th anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Georgia, Shaheen and Turner visited the Administrative Boundary Line in South Ossetia to observe Russia’s continued occupation, underscore the importance of Georgia’s territorial integrity and reaffirm support for Georgia’s security. Shaheen and Turner’s visit comes amid U.S. action to pause bilateral assistance to Georgia following recent actions undertaken by the Georgian government. Earlier this year, Shaheen introduced the bipartisan Georgian People’s Act to hold Georgian government officials accountable for corruption, human rights abuses and efforts to undermine Georgia’s democracy and territorial integrity. Photos from this trip can be found here. 

“In the face of increasingly aggressive actions from authoritarian nations like Russia, who invaded Georgia 16 years ago, it was important that we reaffirm the United States’ enduring support for the right of the Georgian people to have a country that can determine its own future,” said Senator Shaheen. “During our meetings with government officials and civil society organizations, we recommitted to supporting the Georgian people’s aspirations for European integration – but we also made clear that we won’t sit back amid democratic backsliding and false statements targeted toward the United States. We must see free and fair elections and good-faith efforts to work to repeal the foreign agents law that is doing the nation more harm than good in advancing its agenda for EU membership. The first step to get back on track must come from the Georgian government, and we wait to hear its proposal.” 

“The U.S.-Georgian relationship has historically been one of the strongest in the region, yet recent developments against democratic values have caused significant concern in the United States and European Union. Senator Shaheen and I made clear that these concerns are bipartisan and bicameral. Furthermore U.S. policy will not change regardless of the change in the U.S. Administration,” said House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Michael Turner.  “It is imperative that the parliamentary elections in October be free, fair and transparent to the Georgian people and international observers. I am grateful to Senator Shaheen for her unwavering deep commitment to the U.S.-Georgian relationship as well as the invitation to join her on this visit at this critical time.” 

In addition to meeting with Georgian government officials, Shaheen and Turner met with civil society organizations and visited two USAID projects – including meeting with young people from the Gori region and a discussion with Georgian entrepreneurs who receive USAID support to increase economic opportunities in the region. 

Both Senator Shaheen and Chair Turner have visited Georgia several times to reaffirm the United States’ bipartisan, bicameral commitment to the region. Shaheen’s first visit to Georgia was to participate as an election monitor with U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) in 2012. 

Last month, Shaheen and Risch issued a statement welcoming the action by the U.S. State Department to pause $95 million in assistance to the government of Georgia following passage of a foreign agents law. In May, Senators Shaheen, Risch, Cardin, Ricketts, Coons and Graham introduced bipartisan legislation to hold Georgian government officials and individuals responsible for corruption, human rights abuses and efforts to advance the foreign agents law or facilitate its passage. The bill would also enshrine the United States’ enduring support to the Georgian people who overwhelmingly support a more democratic, Euro-Atlantic future. 

Earlier in May, Shaheen and Risch issued a joint statement condemning passage of the foreign agents bill. Prior to the votes in Georgian Parliament, the Senators sent a bipartisan letter to the Prime Minister of Georgia urging the government to reconsider the bill. Shaheen spoke out against the first introduction of the Georgia Dream’s foreign agents law, noting that it resembles laws passed in Russia. In June 2021, Shaheen led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Eastern Europe, including Georgia and Ukraine. 

Last year, Shaheen, along with Senator Durbin, traveled to Georgia and Romania to meet with heads of state, members of the legislature and representatives from civil society to discuss the nations’ bilateral relationships, as well as the geopolitical importance of the Black Sea region. 

In March 2021, Shaheen held a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee hearing on bolstering democracy in Georgia and previously introduced a bipartisan resolution reaffirming U.S. support for a pro-democracy future for Georgia. Senator Shaheen has also successfully led bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate to establish a U.S. policy toward the Black Sea region. 

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