10 signatures reached
To: The President, the Government and the Congress of the United States of America
Statehood of Georgia is in peril!
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
We, the Georgian immigrants living in the United States and friends of Georgia, wish to express our profound appreciation for the approval of the “MEGOBARI Act” by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The bipartisan support for the Georgian people and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration serves as an invaluable source of encouragement in our steadfast pursuit of freedom and democracy—principles we have demonstrated through continuous and determined street protests over the past six months.
As we strive to build a just and prosperous society grounded in universal values, respect for individual freedoms, and human rights, we are deeply alarmed by the troubling political developments that have unfolded in Georgia. We urge U.S. lawmakers to take note of the escalating political crisis, the systematic assault on constitutional norms, the persecution of civil society, and the deliberate dismantling of governmental institutions. The one-party, illegitimate Parliament continues to impose anti-democratic, draconian laws and conduct politically motivated hearings on matters already adjudicated by the Hague Tribunal, exacerbating societal polarization and fostering an atmosphere of division, mistrust, and repression.
This precarious situation is further intensified by the ongoing politically motivated incarceration of Georgia’s third President, Mikheil Saakashvili. The charges brought against President Saakashvili lack legal merit and are clearly driven by political retribution. Disturbingly, former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili previously warned President Saakashvili to "behave properly, or otherwise, we will add more charges and indict his supporters as well." Shockingly, the Georgian courts have acted upon this blatant threat, continuously adding unjust convictions and extending his sentence. Furthermore, the government has imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and hundreds of peaceful demonstrators, establishing a dangerous precedent for political imprisonment and persecution—a reality that starkly contradicts the democratic aspirations of the Georgian people.
The Georgian government's aggressive crackdown on civil society—including the Russian-style "foreign agent" law targeting NGOs and the imposition of severe fines on peaceful demonstrators—underscores its commitment to silencing dissent rather than upholding justice. These actions bear little resemblance to the rule of law and instead reflect a determined effort to consolidate power through intimidation and repression.
In light of these grave violations, we call upon the President, US Government and United States Congress to take a firm stance against the unlawful and inhumane actions of the Georgian government and to defend the fundamental rights of Georgian citizens.
Amidst this alarming democratic backsliding, we, the Georgian-American community, urge all friends of Georgia in the U.S. Government and Congress to use their moral authority and political leadership to help safeguard democracy in Georgia. As a critical first step, we call for an unequivocal demand for the immediate and unconditional release of President Mikheil Saakashvili, journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, and all other political prisoners.
We remain hopeful that the United States, as a steadfast ally and advocate for democracy worldwide, will stand with the Georgian people in their fight for freedom, justice, and a future firmly anchored in Euro-Atlantic values.
With utmost respect,
[Signatures of Georgian-American Community Members]
Why is this important?
I and most of other Georgian born US citizens are alarmed by ongoing expedited dictatorial, anti-American, anti-European and pro-Russian steps taken daily by the illegitimate, a one party government. During the past 34 years the US invested lot of financial, educational human resources in Georgia, which is in jeopardy now. We ask the president, the government and the congress of the United States of America for help to save the statehood of Georgia.