The United States has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, the State Department announced.
“The various anti-democratic actions of “Georgian Dream“ violated the core principles of the US-Georgia strategic partnership, which was based on shared values and a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-corruption efforts.As a result, the United States stopped this mechanism”, the department said in a statement.
As noted by the State Department, the United States regrets that Georgia has decided to suspend the issue of EU accession and condemns the excessive use of force by the local police during the protests against this decision.
Relations between Tbilisi and the West worsened after the adoption of the law “On transparency of foreign influence“ in the Transcaucasian country. This document provides for the registration of non-profit legal entities and media whose funding from abroad exceeds 20% of the total.
Georgia's ambassador to the United States, David Zalkaliani, has resigned after the Georgian authorities decided to end consideration of the issue of starting negotiations to join the European Union.
This was announced by the Georgian opposition TV channel Formula, citing a source from the country's foreign ministry.
„According to a media source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgian Ambassador to the US David Zalkaliani has resigned,” the report said.
According to the TV, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Teimuraz Janjalia, is also leaving his post.
Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Thursday that the country's authorities have decided not to put it on the agenda until the end of 2028. the issue of starting negotiations with the EU for membership and not accepting budget subsidies from the European Union.