"If this law goes ahead without being in line with EU norms and undermines democracy, there is violence against peaceful demonstrators, then we will see restrictions imposed by the United States of America, be it financial or travel restrictions, on the individuals and their family members who will be held responsible", - James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs of the United States of America, said at a press conference.
According to him, if the demonstrations continue, they should be peaceful and also those who are accused of intimidating the peaceful demonstrators should be held accountable.
"If the demonstrations continue, we want it to be peaceful and we want the police representation to be peaceful, we want there to be no intimidation of the demonstrators or others, be it at the demonstration itself, in their homes or against their property, as has been the case in recent days. People responsible for bullying should be found and brought to justice.
If the law moves forward without compliance with EU norms, and if this kind of rhetoric towards the United States and other partners continues, I think the relationship will be at risk. We will offer you some examples - the United States of America has approximately USD 319 million in aid, which we plan to spend with the Georgian authorities, half of it for military aid, and we plan to spend a third of it for projects necessary for economic development, as well as for the construction of institutions and civil society. All this must be reconsidered if we are now viewed as adversaries and not partners. And if this law goes ahead without being in line with EU norms and undermines democracy, there is violence against peaceful protestors, then we will see restrictions imposed by the United States of America, be it financial or travel restrictions, on the individuals and their family members who will be held responsible. about these actions", said O'Brien.
