US State Department Spokesperson warns of “consequences” for Georgia’s “democratic backsliding”

Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, on Tuesday said there would be “consequences” for Georgia’s “democratic backsliding”, in comments that came after Paweł Herczyński, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, on Tuesday announced the bloc had frozen €30 million in support for the country from the European Peace Facility.

Herczyński said the freezing had come in response to the Georgian Government's adoption of a law on transparency of foreign influence - criticised by the country’s Western partners - earlier this year.

That is a decision made by the EU and something that they can more appropriately comment on. But I know that they have made clear, as we have made clear when it comes to our relationship with Georgia, that there would be consequences for Georgia’s democratic backsliding”, Miller said.

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday said the EU decision on freezing the funds was “incomprehensible”.

The top Georgian diplomat stressed “such decisions” would “not ultimately hinder” Georgia's efforts towards European integration.