Violent protests have begun in Georgia
Protests erupted in Georgia after the leader of the pro-Putin Dream party halted EU membership talks over claims of foreign interference in the country. (Credit: AP)
As the 119th Congress prepares for its inaugural session on January 3, a Republican congressman has appealed to the incoming Trump administration to advance US interests and target foreign malicious actors.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, South Carolina Republican Representative Joe Wilson asked Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the nominee for Secretary of State, and Representative Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), the nominee for national security advisor, to “prioritize” Called to give. “Using U.S. law enforcement mechanisms to expose and dismantle Georgian sanctions evasion schemes, scam call centers, and other illegal Georgian Dream enterprises.”
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The letter comes after the United States imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s former prime minister and the country’s de facto ruler, who was turned into a billionaire by Russia.
According to the congressman’s letter, these operations enable Ivanishvili’s regime to profit from atrocities such as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, “which is fueled by Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian collusion”.
On December 27, Ivanishvili was sanctioned by the US Treasury for “undermining Georgia’s democratic and Euro-Atlantic future for the benefit of the Russian Federation”.
Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) speaks during a press conference on the Ukrainian victory resolution on Capitol Hill on April 25, 2023 in Washington, US. (Reuters/Julia Nickinson)
Congressman Wilson, who chairs the Helsinki Commission, calls the sanctions on Ivanishvili an “important step” and urges the incoming administration to extend sanctions on Ivanishvili’s immediate family members and close associates:
The letter reads, “This is an important opportunity to advance our shared goals of defending democracy and countering malign influence around the world. The Axis of Aggressors would be a significant force multiplier if Georgia returned to the rule of the Georgian people. Will be deprived of.”
Georgian Prime Minister praised the crackdown on protests in the country despite US condemnation
Wilson’s letter is a continuation in a series of public outcries among Georgia watchers in the United States and Europe following Georgian Dream’s highly disputed victory in October’s parliamentary elections and the government’s decision to block its entry into the European Union. This led to massive daily demonstrations across the country. Country.
Local and international election observers, including the International Republican Institute (IRI) mission, concluded that the elections were “fundamentally flawed”.
Georgian Dream Party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili speaks after the announcement of exit poll results in parliamentary elections at the Georgian Dream Party headquarters in Tbilisi, Georgia on October 26, 2024. (Reuters/Irakli Gedenidze)
IRI President Dan Twining said, “Considering what IRI’s mission observed and what has happened since the elections, only new elections can restore the Georgian people’s confidence in the legitimacy of their government.”
Despite domestic and international calls for new elections, a single-party parliament announced the appointment of the sole presidential candidate, former football player and staunch Western critic Mikhail Kavelashvili, at an inauguration ceremony on 29 December attended by foreign dignitaries and The guests were clearly missing.
Georgian Dream officials have repeatedly underestimated the possibility of US sanctions. Minutes after the Treasury’s announcement, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed – “In fact, nothing has changed”.
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Kobakhidze, as well as other party leaders, expressed optimism about “positive changes” after President Trump takes office on January 20. However, according to Laura Linderman, senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, this scenario is unlikely.
“Given that Trump’s national security team will take an even tougher stance against countries aligned with China and Iran, Georgian Dream clearly calculates that they will get more favorable treatment under the Trump administration,” Linderman told Fox News Digital. It is wrong.”
US President-elect Donald Trump looks on during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 22, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Linderman also says congressional Republicans are largely united in support of Georgia’s democratic future and “Trump would be unlikely to spend political capital challenging the bipartisan consensus on Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic path”.
In recent years Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream government has isolated itself from the West and aligned itself with authoritarian regimes. Georgia – until recently – a strategic US partner has now formalized such a partnership with China, favored Chinese companies over US investment, adopted Russian-style “foreign agent” legislation, and suspended EU accession talks. Is done. This year alone, Prime Minister Kobakhidze has made several visits to Iran. In Tehran he attended the funeral of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the inauguration of new President Massoud Pezeshkian, who was sworn in with slogans of “Down with America, Down with Israel.”
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James Carafano, senior counselor at the Heritage Foundation and a leading foreign policy expert, told Fox News Digital that regimes that depend on support from Moscow and Beijing will feel that “the game is over,” adding that they ” “Can’t expect a favorable or indifferent hand”. Trump administration.
Carafano says, “If US interests are at stake, and some are in Georgia, then governments that want to depend on Moscow will not only get the cold shoulder from Trump, but will likely be attacked as well.” ,
