U.S. Suspends Aid To Georgian Government In Response to Democratic Backsliding
The Biden administration on Wednesday paused a significant amount of foreign assistance to the government of Georgia in response to the ongoing erosion of democratic institutions in the country, TURAN’s Washungton correspondent reports.
The move came as the Georgian government is poised to implement the recently passed controversial “foreign agent” law, a copycat piece of legislation imported from Moscow, which forces Georgian civil society groups to register as foreign agents if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement Wednesday morning, said that Georgia’s anti-democratic actions and false statements were “incompatible with membership norms in the EU and NATO” and as a result, the U.S. would pause $95 million in aid to the Georgian Dream government.
Assistance to “programs and activities that benefit the people of Georgia by strengthening democracy, rule of law, independent media and economic development” will continue.
“Over the 32 years of friendship and partnership between our two countries and our citizens, the people of the United States have provided over $6.2 billion in assistance, contributing to the development and strengthening of Georgia’s economy and democratic institutions.” Blinken noted. “Our support has helped equip and train Georgia’s Defense Forces and Coast Guard, built schools and hospitals, and trained teachers, civil servants, and medical professionals. We will remain committed to the Georgian people and their Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he added.
The pause on U.S. assistance is the result of a review of bilateral cooperation that was announced in May, along with visa restrictions, the State Department said.
“That review is ongoing and we of course stand at the ready to take any additional and appropriate action should we need to,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told a Wednesday briefing when responding to TURAN’s questions.
He recalled that about 80 percent of the Georgian people support EU membership, even though the “Georgian Dream” government “through its own actions, is moving the country further from the European aspirations of its citizens,” as Patel put it.
He went on to add, “Though our bilateral ties are at a uniquely challenging moment, the United States commitment to the Georgian people and their aspirations is absolutely enduring. We will continue to support programs and activities that benefit the people of Georgia by strengthening democracy, rule of law, independent media, and economic development.”
When asked by TURAN about the Helsinki Commission leaders’ recent letter to Secretary Blinken calling for sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili and inner circle, Patel said he wouldn’t preview any actions at this point.