Georgian President, US Officials discuss political situation, October elections

The current political situation in Georgia and the October parliamentary elections were discussed on Friday between the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili and the United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Mike Turner.

Zourabichvili noted the upcoming parliamentary elections had the significance of a referendum for Georgia's European path and democratic future, also pointing out the importance of voter mobilisation, the Georgian President's Administration said.

The President introduced the Georgian Charter to the officials as an action plan for the implementation of European recommendations in a short time frame and as an “important tool” for opening negotiations for Georgia’s accession to the European Union. She added it was “very important” for the Georgian people to feel the US’s support.

The US officials reaffirmed their country’s “steadfast support” of Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, emphasising the aim of their visit to show and confirm the “great importance” they attach to and support the country’s democratic future and development.

“Georgia and the Georgian people have always had and will have bipartisan support from the United States, which means the support of the country as a whole”, the officials stressed at the meeting.

Senator Shaheen and Congressman Turner “highly” appreciated the personal efforts of the President on the path of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.

The visiting US officials criticised the steps taken by the Georgian ruling party for adopting the controversial law on transparency of foreign influence in May, which requires the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. “The Russian law” harms the Georgian democracy, Georgia's European path and bilateral relations, they added.

The sides also highlighted the current developments in Georgia's Russian-occupied territories, the security of the Black Sea region, and the situation in Ochamchire port, located on the Black Sea coast of the currently occupied Abkhazia region, where Russia plans to open a military port that will impose a threat on the entire Black Sea region. The US officials pointed out they would visit the occupation line within the scope of their visit.

At the meeting, the conversation also touched on the “importance” of the MEGOBARI Act - approved in July by the US following the adoption of the transparency of foreign influence law - for deepening and strengthening bilateral relations between the countries.

As part of their official visit to Georgia, the US officials also met with the country’s non-governmental organisations.