US Senator Shaheen ‘surprised, disappointed’ with political crisis in Georgia
The hearing on bolstering democracy in Georgia aimed to understand how the United States can support Georgia resolve its current political standoff. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is ‘surprised and disappointed’ that all parties in Georgia ‘have allowed the current crisis to last so long’.
Calling on all sides ‘to put aside short-term political interests’ Senator Shaheen calls them to instead ‘look to the strengthening and perseverance of Georgian democracy’.
Georgia’s commitment to democracy must be demonstrated through the actions of all Georgians whether they are in the government or the opposition. So it’s imperative that the government take steps to ensure an independent judiciary, and to work with all opposition parties to find a negotiated resolution to this crisis”, Shaheen said.
Shaheen, who chairs the hearing on bolstering democracy in Georgia also said in her introductory speech that the purpose of today’s hearing is to discuss the current political crisis in Georgia ‘to better understand how the United States can support its democratic resolution to the current political standoff’.
Noting that ‘a truly democratic country must be responsive to the will of the people but a successful democracy also needs to function and address the needs of its citizens’ she said ‘given the current impasse in Georgia the only party who is winning is Russia’.
Russia thrives from disorder and chaos and every day the members of opposition sit in jail is the victory for Russia; every day that the Georgian parliament seats are empty is a disservice to the people of Georgia and a victory for Russia”, she said.
Claiming that the last year's parlaimentary elections have been falsified in favour of the ruling party, Georgian opposition politicians who have won the seats refuse to take up their mandates and hold protest rallies. During the recent EU-mediated negotiations the opposing parties failed to make an agreement to end the political crisis. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
She further noted that the US has long been a friend and ally of ‘free and democratic Georgia’ and it remains the case today, but ‘that important relationship is dependent on Georgia’s commitment to strengthening the institutions of democracy’.
Citing the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR that the 2020 elections in Georgia were competitive and administered efficiently despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Senator Shaheen said the report has also emphasised the need for election reform, which she urges the Georgian government ‘undertake with expediency’.
It’s not enough to hold an election that meets the threshold of legitimacy. Democratic elections must have robust mechanisms in place to resolve disagreements; mechanisms that are seen as fair by all participants of the democratic process", Shaheen said in her speech.
Having travelled to Georgia back in 2012 to observe Georgia’s parliamentary elections when the Georgian Dream took over as the ruling party, Senator Shaheen said Georgia’s democracy ‘has been tested but it's generally been strengthened and deepened’ since then.
She also said Georgia has come ‘a long way in a relatively short period of time’ and worked ‘to establish and strengthen its democratic institutions’. Although ‘the path hasn’t always been straight but the overall trajectory has been positive’.
The EU mediator in the talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on the issues of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of opposition figures Christian Danielsson will travel back to Georgia by the end of the week to help the parties to come to an agreement on ‘two most challenging issues.’
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which observed Georgia’s parliamentary elections last year, said in its final report that ‘despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic’ the elections were ‘competitive and administered efficiently’.
US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen are ‘deeply concerned’ by recent political developments in Georgia. Hoping ‘this political crisis will come to an end quickly and peacefully’, they said that ‘all sides of the political spectrum must now return to the negotiating table and de-escalate the political atmosphere’.
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Jim Risch and Senator Jeanne Shaheen have made a joint statement ahead of the October 31 parliamentary elections in Georgia, noting the importance for all political parties in the country to respect and abide by international standards for a free and fair electoral process.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated earlier today that support from the European Union and the United States is of critical importance for Georgia to overcome its current political crisis.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the country’s opposition has two choices: ‘either listen to the EU and the US partners and take up their mandates in the state legislature, or continue their marginal actions.’
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has stated earlier today that the ruling Georgian Dream party is not considering holding repeat parliamentary elections or the release of opposition United National Movement chair Nika Melia during the upcoming EU-mediated negotiations.
The EU-mediation talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on the issues of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of opposition figures are likely to resume on Monday, IPN has cited the EU delegation to Georgia as saying. IPN has reported that the EU mediator in the talks Christian Danielsson will arrive in Georgia either on March 28 or 29.
EU mediator Christian Danielsson, who arrived in Georgia late last night, calls on the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition to agree on a compromise. Danielsson said upon arrival that he is looking forward to engaging with the leaders of the political parties in supporting them to reach an agreement to end the political crisis in this country.
US foreign policy expert and former ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker does not see the need for repeat parliamentary elections in Georgia. Volker told TV Pirveli media outlet that despite certain violations which need to be investigated, the OSCE/ODIHR has recognised last year’s elections as transparent and legitimate.
A congressional delegation led by US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and including Senator Rob Portman, will visit Georgia next week to reaffirm US commitment. Shaheen and Portman will visit Georgia to send a bipartisan message that the United States stands with the people of Georgia in their efforts to strengthen their democracy.
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Rob Portman, who arrived in Georgia late yesterday, visited the occupation line near the village of Zemo Nikozi earlier today which separates the country’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region from the rest of Georgia. The European Union Monitoring Mission accompanied the senators at the scene and briefed them about the situation on the ground.
Five US Congressmen, Alex Mooney, Kelly Michael Armstrong, Bryan George Steil, Carol Devine Miller and Ronald Jean Estes arrived in Georgia earlier today. While in Georgia between September 6-9 the US legislators will meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Minister of Economy Natia Turnava and Georgian MPs.