US House of Representatives passes bipartisan Georgia Support Act

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said the US is Georgia’s “closest strategic ally”, whereas the Georgia Support Act is “landmark piece of legislation”. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Agenda.ge, 23 Oct 2019 - 08:27, Tbilisi,Georgia

The United States House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Georgia Support Act, introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly and co-sponsored by 31 other US legislators. 

With the Georgia Support Act the US supports:

  • continued development of democratic values in Georgia, including free and fair elections, public sector transparency and accountability, the rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts;
  • the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders;
  • the right of the Georgian people to freely determine their future and make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and security policy, 
  • Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic and European integration

Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

The bill further says that the US does not recognises the illegal invasions and occupations of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia” by the Russian Federation.

It also condemns ongoing detentions, kidnappings and other human rights violations committed in the regions "forcibly occupied" by the Russian Federation, including the recent killings of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and Davit Basharuli.