Shaheen, Risch, Kinzinger, Connolly on Developments in Georgian Political Crisis

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chair of the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation SFRC Subcommittee, issued the following statement with Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representatives Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) and Gerry Connolly (VA-11), co-chairs of the House Georgia Caucus, on developments in Georgia:

“The Georgian government’s decision to violently raid the United National Movement headquarters to arrest its leader, Nika Melia, and dozens of activists is profoundly troubling. The corrupt use of Georgia’s law enforcement and judiciary to execute politically-motivated actions jeopardizes what remains of Georgia’s democracy and its Euro-Atlantic path. We call for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Mr. Melia and Giorgi Rurua. All political parties in Georgia must cease provocations and negotiate a peaceful resolution to this crisis.”