UNM member publishes letter of US Senate member
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, January 27
After calling on the government to publish the letter sent by US Senate member, the United National Movement member Salome Samadashvili put out the letter herself.
The letter dated December 19, 2019, and was sent to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Roger Wicker.
The letter focuses on the Georgian Dream's rejection of its promise, a fully proportional electoral system, criminal cases that give the impression of political persecution, and the appointment of 14 judges to the Supreme Court for a lifetime with serious questions about their qualifications.
According to Wicker, "this further undermines public confidence in the rule of law." Roger Wicker speaks of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the Georgian Dream, who threatens to send political opponents to jail, which he said, “deepens concern over the timing and circumstances surrounding court cases against key opposition figures, such as Giga Bokeria and Nika Melia.”
“With less than a year left before the election, I urge your government to act quickly to get an electoral system that has broad public support and that creates an equal playing field for everyone. If these issues are not addressed, the growing distrust of Georgia's democratic institutions could undermine the legitimacy of next year's elections and the country's judicial system in a broad sense,” reads the letter.
During the press conference, Samadashvili noted that when the member of the senate says something like this it means that the mean problem that the Georgian people have is the Georgian Dream ruling party and Bidzina Ivanishvili.
For the last few weeks, several other letters have also been published, all of them calling on the government to work harder on the country’s democracy.
In his letter, Congressman Brian Babin writes that he shares the views of his colleagues on the problems of democracy and violence against activists in Georgia.
It also finds it worrying that Georgian Dream-related pages boost anti-Western sentiments. The congressman says the current negative trends have led to a decline in foreign investment in Georgia as US and European interests have been attacked.
The congressman speaks about the Georgia Support Act passed by the US House of Representatives and stresses that an important part of this act is promoting democratic value in Georgia, transparency of the civil sector, and fair elections. He said it was because of the spirit of the act that Congressmen were concerned.
He notes that for the first time in the country's history, Georgia and its resources are viewed in a dangerous and negative context. He said that because of the deteriorating situation, the US President has signed two documents dealing with the growing antagonistic actions of the Georgian government towards democratic principles, free markets and US business interests.
The United States established diplomatic relations with Georgia in 1992 following Georgia’s 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. The United States is committed to helping Georgia deepen Euro-Atlantic ties and strengthen its democratic institutions.
The United States supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and does not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia of Georgia, currently occupied by Russia, as independent regions.
