The Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate is to discuss the bipartisan bill, “Georgian People’s Act”, at the meeting scheduled for September 25, the Foreign Relations Committee reports.
The Georgian People’s Act, among other things, envisages visa restrictions/sanctions for those persons who hinder Georgia’s progress on the Euro-Atlantic path, and also emphasizes the obligation of the US Senate to support Georgian civil society in light of recent developments.
The Bill envisages a series of measures in response to the Georgian government’s recent acts and policies, including sanctions on Georgian officials, a review of foreign assistance, and a reassessment of the existing bilateral relations. The bill also reaffirms the US commitment to the people of Georgia, civil society and democracy.
In response to the “Foreign Agents” bill recently passed by the Georgian Parliament, which restricts the functioning of civil society and independent media in the country, US senators have introduced a bipartisan bill that would hold Georgia government officials and individuals accountable for corruption, human rights violations and for promoting/supporting the law on “Foreign Agents”.
In a statement published on the website of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 24, it is said that “the [Georgian People’s Act] bill will strengthen the continued support of the United States of America to the people of Georgia, who overwhelmingly support a democratic, Euro-Atlantic future.”
The Georgian People’s Act includes two main parts. First:
1. To outline the consequences that will be imposed on the representatives of the Georgian government and individuals who are responsible for hindering the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia. It requires the State Department to impose travel restrictions on Georgian individuals and their family members for participating in the promotion and support of the “Foreign Agents” act; New sanctions should be imposed on those persons who are responsible for undermining the stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity of Georgia; Demands that sanctions be imposed on those Georgian individuals who are responsible for human rights violations and corruption.
2. Demands that the State Department develop a long-term strategy for Georgia, including reviewing military aid, and demands that the US government suspend all funding that supports the Georgian government.
3. Calling for a long suspension of the US-Georgia strategic dialogue.
Second:
1. Emphasizes the commitment of the US Senate to support the civil society of Georgia in the light of recent events;
2. Allocates at least 50 million US dollars to support democracy and rule of law development projects in Georgia;
3. Demands that the State Department and the US Agency for International Development determine how to continue supporting Georgian civil society in light of recent developments.
4. Two reporting requirements to assess (1) the extent of foreign influence in Georgia and (2) efforts to support Georgian political prisoners.
The Georgia People’s Act is a package authored by Senators Jin Shaheen and Jim Risch.
Based on the draft law, travel bans and other sanctions will be imposed on those Georgian politicians who are responsible for “obstructing Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration”, as well as “corruption, human rights violations and drafting and facilitating the adoption of the ‘Foreign Agents Law’.”
