Jul 31. () –
The US administration announced on Wednesday that it was freezing the transfer of more than 95 million dollars (about 88 million euros) in aid to the Georgian government in response to the controversial foreign agents law passed by Tbilisi at the end of May in the face of criticism from the population and part of the international community.
“On May 23, following undemocratic actions by the Georgian government, I announced a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, stressing that these frozen funds “directly” benefited the Georgian government.
Blinken stressed that this position of the Georgian authorities is “incompatible with the rules of membership of the European Union and NATO,” while emphasizing that Washington will continue with those aid programs for Tbilisi but that they directly benefit the population “by strengthening democracy.”
“After 32 years of friendship and collaboration between our two countries and citizens, the American people have provided more than $6.2 billion (more than 5.7 billion euros) in assistance, contributing to the development and strengthening of Georgia’s economy and democratic institutions,” the State Department said in a statement.
Last May, the Georgian government passed a law on foreign agents that the international community has interpreted as a rapprochement with Russia’s position and goes against Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union.
Part of the population took to the streets to protest against the law, while Georgian President Salome Zurabishvilli, who is opposed to the government, presented a presidential veto of the law, which was, however, overturned in Parliament, where the government has a majority.
Add Comment