Shaheen, Risch Issue Statement Regarding Violence in Georgia Following Suspension of European Union Membership Accession

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the below statement regarding the violence in Georgia following suspension of European Union membership:

“We are very alarmed by the situation unfolding in Georgia where peaceful protest has been met with brute force and violence following the government of Georgia’s unconstitutional decision to disregard the aspirations of the majority of the Georgian people by suspending its European Union membership accession. We stand with the Georgian people who have a right to peacefully protest.

“There is strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the United States Congress for the Georgian people, and we will work to ensure that the Georgian government and individuals responsible for election interference, violence against peaceful civilians, and other acts that undermine the territorial integrity of Georgia are held accountable. 

“We call on the State Department to make its position clear and unequivocal regarding the current use of force against peaceful protestors and we urge the current and incoming administrations to commit to supporting freedom and democracy in Georgia. The Biden Administration decision to suspend our Strategic Partnership with Georgia is a good start but now is the time to use all of the tools at the disposal of the U.S. government, including sanctions, to remind the Georgian government that actions have consequences. The Georgian people deserve to know that the United States will not sit idly by as this situation deteriorates.”

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