The citizens of Georgia have the right to peacefully express their views regarding the conduct of elections, which international and local observers did not declare free and fair, - this is stated in the statement of USA President Joe Biden.
In the statement, President Biden calls on the government of Georgia to transparently investigate all election violations, withdraw laws such as the "Foreign Influence Law" and immediately start an inclusive dialogue with all political forces in Georgia.
"The United States has long stood with the Georgian people and supports Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. That is why the country's recent democratic backsliding, including the enactment of bills that mirror Russian laws that curtail fundamental freedoms and limit space for independent civil society organizations, has been so alarming.
Most recently, Georgia's October 26 parliamentary elections were marred by numerous reported cases of misuse of administrative resources, as well as voter intimidation and coercion.
Citizens of Georgia have the right to peacefully express their views regarding the conduct of these elections, which international and local observers have not declared free and fair.
We call on the Georgian government to transparently investigate all election violations, withdraw laws such as the "Foreign Influence Law" that restrict freedom of assembly and expression, and immediately begin an inclusive dialogue with all political forces in Georgia to restore electoral justice.
We call on all parties to fully respect the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, which remain the basis of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future," said Biden's statement released by the White House.
