Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, said Georgia’s “democratic backsliding is deeply concerning.”

During a joint press point with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Blinken stated: “What both the U.S. and France see is [Georgia] democratic backsliding and it is deeply concerning not just democratic backsliding but a retreat away from the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Georgian people, the aspiration to build a future that is closer and closer to Europe.”

“So, having seen that backsliding, having seen the government that is acting in contravention of the clear will of the people, having seen an election that raised many questions, having seen repressive actions taken by the government about the people trying to speak freely and openly, we, as well as our partners, have taken action, we sanctioned the leader of Georgian party Ivanishvili as well as other members of the government, we suspended American assistance to the Georgian government, acting together with almost all our partners in the OSCE, including France, we invoked the Viena mechanism though the OSCE to also make clear that steps that have been taken, including legislation that profoundly squeezes the space for freedom of expression and freedom of action by civil society, that has to change. I think you see a clear unity of purpose when it comes to the U.S., France and many other countries faced with the very unfortunate action of the government of Georgia,” Blinked noted.