At a US Helsinki Commission hearing titled “From Partner to Problem: Georgia’s Anti-American Shift,” Congressman Joe Wilson, co-chair of the commission, delivered a stark warning about Georgia’s political trajectory under the ruling “Georgian Dream” party.
Wilson argued that the government, which he accused of coming to power through rigged elections, is steering Georgia away from democracy and into dictatorship. “The government of Georgian Dream, which falsified elections, is dragging the Georgian people toward dictatorship, stripping away sovereignty, condemning them to poverty, and betraying the country’s traditional allies, including the United States,” he said.
The congressman described Georgian Dream as lacking legitimacy, calling the country a “laboratory of authoritarian control.” He highlighted a pattern of repressive tactics, including the imprisonment of opposition leaders, violence against peaceful protesters, the silencing of independent media, and the consolidation of one-party rule.
Wilson also accused the ruling party of strengthening ties with hostile powers at the expense of Georgia’s Western aspirations. “This betrayal does not stop there,” he warned. “Georgian Dream has chosen to align with the Chinese Communist Party, opening the door to Chinese influence in Georgia’s economy and infrastructure. Most significantly, it has handed over its Black Sea port to the Chinese Communist Party, blocking American businesses from strategic trade routes and tying Georgia’s future to a regime openly preparing for confrontation with the American people.”
In addition, Wilson claimed the government is actively collaborating with Moscow, describing Georgian Dream as “closely cooperating with war criminal Putin.” He alleged that Georgia has helped Russia evade sanctions and resell its oil, even as Moscow continues to occupy 20 percent of Georgian territory.
Wilson claimed that this represents not only a betrayal of Georgia’s Western allies but also a reversal of decades of US support. “America has invested heavily over decades to help Georgia build a free, prosperous, and democratic state,” he said. “What we see today is the unraveling of this progress by a corrupt regime that lacks legitimacy.”
Despite the government’s trajectory, Wilson stressed that the Georgian people continue to demand a different path. “Time and again, the Georgian people have held massive demonstrations, demanding democracy, sovereignty, and a return to a future of peace and prosperity alongside the West,” he said.
Wilson emphasized that the United States must consider how best to respond. “This hearing will examine how far Georgia has fallen under Georgian Dream and what this means for American security and interests. We will also discuss the tools available to the US in response, including the bipartisan ‘MEGOBARI Act,’ to hold ‘Georgian Dream’ accountable and stand firmly by the Georgian people.”
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