Supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream Party attend a rally in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
“Similarly, my Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act ensured the United States never recognized the murderous Assad regime. Now that regime is also gone. We will pursue the same policy with the Ivanishvili regime. Thanks to the strength of the freedom-loving Georgian people, I am positive that this regime will be gone soon too and Georgia will have free and fair elections,” Rep. Wilson told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute Luke Coffey, who has advocated for Georgia’s Western aspirations, including NATO membership, for over a decade, said the legislation is an indication that “U.S. lawmakers and policymakers are becoming increasingly frustrated” with the Georgian Dream and their actions in Georgia.
“It is also a reminder of how important the U.S. Congress is in American foreign policy development, and those Georgian Dream officials should pay close attention to what Congress is doing, especially those members of Congress who are close to Donald Trump. After January 20th, these members of Congress will have even more influence on U.S. foreign policymaking,” Coffey said.
According to the bill, the United States shall recognize Salome Zourabichvili as “the incumbent President of Georgia prior to the fraudulent elections on October 26, 2024” and as the only legitimate leader in Georgia.
This policy may be declared void “in the case of the restoration of the Georgian constitution as demonstrated by the holding of free and fair elections,” the bill reads.
Despite the current low point in the U.S.- Georgian relationships, Coffey believes that with the best policies pursued, relationships can get back on track. “In the meantime, the United States needs to pursue policies that support the legitimate political opposition against an increasingly authoritarian, Belarusian-like government in Tbilisi,” Coffey said.
