Washington: The US Department of State announced the suspension of the strategic partnership with Georgia on Saturday, following Georgia's decision to halt its EU accession process. This move came just a day after the ruling party, Georgian Dream, made the controversial decision, which has sparked significant international and domestic backlash. According to Kuwait News Agency, the decision by Georgian Dream to suspend the EU accession process contradicts the commitment to the Georgian people, a commitment enshrined in their constitution that aims for full integration into the European Union and NATO. A statement from State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that by halting the EU accession process, Georgian Dream has turned away from potential closer ties with Europe, thereby increasing Georgia's susceptibility to Russian influence. The statement from the US also highlighted the widespread support among Georgians for European integration and condemned the police's excessive use of force agai nst citizens exercising their rights to assembly and expression. The US has urged all parties to maintain peaceful protests. Furthermore, the statement pointed out that Georgian Dream's anti-democratic actions have undermined the fundamentals of the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership. This partnership was founded on common values, including democracy, the rule of law, civil society, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts. The suspension of this mechanism underscores these violations. The United States has called on the Georgian government to resume its Euro-Atlantic path, conduct transparent investigations into parliamentary election irregularities, and revoke any anti-democratic laws that restrict freedoms of assembly and expression.
