Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the progress made by the people of Georgia in forging an innovative and productive society since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union should be applauded; (2) the consolidation of democracy in Georgia is critical for regional stability and United States national interests; (3) Georgia has seen significant democratic backsliding in recent years, as evidenced by numerous independent assessments and measures; (4) the current Georgian government is increasingly hostile towards independent domestic civil society and its chief Euro-Atlantic partners while increasingly embracing enhanced ties with the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, and other anti-Western authoritarian regimes; (5) the United States has an interest in protecting and securing democracy in Georgia; and (6) the Secretary should suspend the United States-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission, established through the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership on January 9, 2009, until after the Government of Georgia takes measures— (A) to represent the democratic wishes of the citizens of Georgia; and (B) to uphold its constitutional obligation to advance the country towards membership in the European Union and NATO.