US lawmakers unite to defend former employees amid Georgia’s political crackdown
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has penned a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing concern over politically charged rhetoric from Georgian officials targeting former US programme employees. The lawmakers, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Roger Wicker, John Curtis, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Representatives Joe Wilson and Steve Cohen, have urged the State Department to seek assurances from the Georgian government to protect these individuals.
The lawmakers' appeal comes amidst months of tension between Washington and Tbilisi, sparked by accusations of meddling in domestic politics and concerns over democratic backsliding and anti-American rhetoric in Georgia. The target of this rhetoric are opposition members and civil society activists, who the lawmakers have clarified are receiving legally mandated severance benefits, not covert funding. The head of Georgia's State Security Service, Mamuka Mdinaradze, had previously accused the US of funding revolutionary activities through payments to former USAID staff. The lawmakers warn that the mischaracterization of these payments puts the former staff at personal risk.
The letter reflects rare bipartisan unity on a foreign-policy issue, with lawmakers calling on the State Department to intervene and ensure the safety of former US programme employees in Georgia. The Georgian government's response to these concerns will likely shape future diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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