Chair Cardin Condemns Crackdown on Protestors After Georgian Presidential Election
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has strongly condemned the Georgian Dream party for its continued violence against peaceful protestors following Saturday's controversial presidential election. The election, conducted by parliament, has faced widespread challenges from Georgian society and international observers.
In a statement, Senator Cardin highlighted the escalation of attacks on protestors, which he described as a reflection of the ruling party's true nature. "Georgian Dream has once again revealed its true nature with the selection of notorious anti-American provocateur Mikheil Kavelashvili as its standard bearer," Cardin said. He pointed to Kavelashvili's role in Georgia's democratic backsliding, including his co-authorship of the Russian-style foreign agent law.
Cardin condemned the violent response to the protests, emphasizing reports of brutality against peaceful demonstrators. "When the Georgian people gathered in massive numbers on Saturday to protest the rise of an anti-democratic figure, security forces met them with torture and brutality. Georgian Dream must immediately end its violent assault on innocent citizens and release all detained protestors, including minors, held in their prisons," he said.
The protests come as Georgian Dream suspended the country's European Union accession talks on November 28, a move Cardin described as being at odds with Georgia's constitutional commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration.
Cardin called on President Joe Biden to hold those responsible for the violence accountable, including the use of Global Magnitsky sanctions. "Now is the moment for the United States and our allies to stand strong with the people of Georgia in their pursuit of democracy and freedom," he urged.
