US Senators present strong sanctions bill against Russia for its aggression in Georgia, Ukraine
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Five US senators have introduced a bill to the Senate which provides tougher sanctions against Russia for its illegal activities in Ukraine, Georgia and for its support of the violent regime of Bashar-al-Assad in Syria.
The bill seeks to increase economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Russia and establishes a comprehensive policy response to better position the US government to address Kremlin aggression by creating new policy offices on cyber defenses and sanctions coordination,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry cited the bill as saying.
- Read about the sanctions provided by the bill here.
Putin’s actions cannot be tolerated, and the consequences of inaction are quickly compounding – further humanitarian disaster in Syria, regional instability, kidnapping of Ukrainian sailors and seizure of ships, and the steady erosion of international norms," Senators Bob Menendez, one of the authors of the bill said.
He says that "one thing is increasingly clear: Moscow will continue to push until it meets genuine resistance."
That is why we are introducing a proposal to actually address the realities of the Kremlin threat in a holistic way, all while sending a crystal clear message to our adversaries that the U.S Congress will protect our institutions, allies and values even if the president chooses not to do so," the Senator stated.
The bill, which was presented yesterday, needs to be approved by the US Senate, the House of Representatives and then signed by President Donald Trump for it to come into play.
Senators Bob Menendez, Lindsey Graham, Cory Gardner, Ben Cardin and Jeanne Shaheen have drafted the bill.
US Congressman Francis Rooney has presented a draft bill to the US Congress which condemns last year’s recognition of independence of the two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Syria.The draft cites Georgia as “one of the US’ most reliable allies in Eurasia” and urges the US government and its partners to take active steps suspend the Russian invasion in its neighboring states.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has met with US legislators in Washington and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron Wess Mitchell.
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill which not only condemns the occupation of Georgian lands but also provides sanctions against those who violate human rights in the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The bi-partisan Georgia Support Act has been introduced to US Congress by Co-Chairmen of the Georgia Caucus Congressmen Ted Poe and Gerald Connolly on June 26. The legislation reasserts the United States’ support for Georgia’s sovereignty and opposition to the "forceful and illegal Russian invasion of Abkhazia and Tskhinivali region/South Ossetia."
PM Bakhtadze thanked the senators for their support for Georgia and emphasised that a bill drafted by five senators, Jeanne Shaheen among them, is a clear demonstration of this support.
The Prime Minister of Mamuka Bakhtadze is attending the 55th Munich Security Conference and is holding meetings with high-ranking officials of several countries to discuss bilateral relations and further cooperation plans.
The US House of Representatives held a hearing on the topic Countering a Resurgent Russia, where diplomats and congresspeople condemned the occupation of Georgian lands by Russia, urging stronger support for Georgia.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkalinai says that Georgia is proud of its centuries-long tolerance to various religious minorities living in the country, stating that Russia harshly violates religious rights and freedom of the Georgian citizens living in the currently occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
The Georgian Embassy to Germany has sent an official letter to the German Public Broadcaster and the author of a seven-minute TV story which stated incorrect and distorted historic claims about Georgia’s Russian occupied region of Abkhazia, saying that the territory “was handed to Georgia by the head of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin.”
The Houses of Representatives has published a new bill for purposes of the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programmes for the current fiscal year which states that $132,025,000 financial assistance will be allocated for Georgia.