On 10 July, the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia responded to the US House of Representatives subcommittee bill, stating that “international partners are Georgia's closest allies.” He stated that the bill includes “some unpleasant notes,” adding that many Georgian politicians were trying to engage Georgia’s strategic partners in internal political rivalry.
“As it appears, the pre-election, internal ‘high temperature’ has become palpable outside the country as well. We have seen the same interpretations regarding the recent constitutional changes. However, after the adoption of the changes we have been largely praised. Our international partners have once again seen that we are moving ahead. The parliamentary elections are coming and we should conduct them in full line with top democratic standards,” he said.
On 7 July, the House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey proposed a bill which stipulates that 15% of $132 million in assistance to Georgia may be withheld until the US Secretary of State determines and reports that the Georgian government is taking effective steps to strengthen democratic institutions, combat corruption and ensure that the rule of law in the private sector is consistent with internationally recognised standards.
On the other hand, the draft of the bill also clarified that the withholding of funds doesn't apply to programmes that support “democracy, the rule of law, civil society and the media, or programmes to reduce gender-based violence and to protect vulnerable populations.” There was also a chapter in the document about the occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. The section said that “none of the funds appropriated by this Act may be made available to support the Russian Federation’s occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia.”
Two days later, further notes were added to the bill, saying that the US Secretary of State shall determine if the Georgian government was: 1) effectively implementing electoral reform, 2) respecting the independence of the judiciary, including from legislative or executive interference, 3) effectively implementing the necessary policies to ensure accountability and transparency, including unfettered access to public information, 4) protecting the rights of civil society, opposition political parties, and the independence of the media and 5) limiting the informal influence of oligarchs over functions of government and the application of laws and regulations.
One of the leaders of the European Georgia party, Giga Bokeria, stated that the House of Representatives subcommittee proposal is an “exceptionally alarming signal” and that the draft bill was a “clear message from the US” with which Washington raises concerns with the current situation in Georgia. “Instead of lobbying additional assistance and free trade with the US in times of such difficulty, we have an exceptionally alarming signal from our strategic partner. We haven't had such a message since 2003, the last time it happened was during Shevardnadze's time. Today there are deep concerns with regards to Ivanishvili's steps which have led our country to a deadlock,” he said. The Independent parliamentarian Tamar Chugoshvili said that the warning was statements “we have heard before, [but] now it is more than a warning.”
