U.S. Senators Criticize Georgian Dream Over Post-Election Crackdown
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, October 10, 2025
U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a joint statement on October 9 expressing concern over the political situation in Georgia following the October 4 local elections.
The senators criticized the Georgian government for outlawing opposition parties and detaining their leaders, calling the actions "egregious and undemocratic." They said these measures signal that the ruling Georgian Dream party is "wholly uninterested in pursuing a path toward normalized political dialogue."
Shaheen and Risch also condemned politically motivated investigations and intimidation of civil society leaders, including individuals who have cooperated with the United States or testified before the Senate committee. "These actions are an attempt to silence dissent in a country with a proud history of speaking truth to power," the statement said.
The senators further criticized the Georgian government's targeting of former U.S. government employees, calling the allegations against them "baseless." They stressed that it is the Georgian government, not the United States, that is undermining democracy in Georgia and restricting the country's ability to determine its own future.
The statement welcomed the U.S. Department of State's decision to summon the Georgian ambassador in response to the developments and urged the Trump administration to consider recent government actions when evaluating the bilateral relationship.
Shaheen and Risch expressed bipartisan support for the Georgian people, emphasizing their right to self-determination and the ability to participate freely in political life.
