[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 176 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 94
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 176
Urging all parties in Georgia to seek prompt implementation of the
agreement signed on April 19, 2021, and reaffirming the support of the
Senate for Georgia, the territorial integrity of Georgia, and the
aspirations of Georgians to join the Euro-Atlantic community.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 22, 2021
Mr. Johnson (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Risch, Mr. Van Hollen, and
Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 24, 2021
Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment and an amendment to the
preamble and an amendment to the title
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Urging all parties in Georgia to seek prompt implementation of the
agreement signed on April 19, 2021, and reaffirming the support of the
Senate for Georgia, the territorial integrity of Georgia, and the
aspirations of Georgians to join the Euro-Atlantic community.
Whereas, on April 9, 1991, Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union,
and on March 24, 1992, the United States and Georgia established formal
diplomatic relations;
Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by
the international community and numerous United Nations Security Council
resolutions;
Whereas, at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) recognized the aspirations of Georgia to join NATO and agreed
that Georgia would become a member of the Alliance;
Whereas, on January 9, 2009, the United States and Georgia signed the United
States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, affirming the close
relationship between the United States and Georgia based on the shared
principles of democracy, free markets, defense and security cooperation,
and cultural exchanges;
Whereas Georgia has made significant contributions to the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and remains the largest troop contributor among NATO
partners to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan;
Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and condemns the
continued occupation by the Russian Federation of the Georgian regions
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Whereas, in March 2020, the United States and several embassies of European
countries in Georgia brokered an agreement among the major political
parties in Georgia, which included changes to the electoral system and
called on all sides to address the appearance of political interference
in the judicial system;
Whereas, on June 29, 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted constitutional
amendments, establishing a more proportional electoral system and
promoting greater political pluralism in future parliaments;
Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi applauded Georgia's electoral
reforms and urged the Parliament of Georgia to pass additional
legislation that fully incorporates all of the recommendations of the
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) and urged Georgian
authorities to effectively implement such legislation;
Whereas, on October 31, 2020, Georgia held its first parliamentary elections
since adopting the electoral reforms in June 2020;
Whereas the OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation team detailed a number of
flaws and partially or completely unimplemented OSCE/ODIHR
recommendations, but also concluded that the first round of the October
2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia was ``competitive and, overall,
fundamental freedoms were respected'';
Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi shared the OSCE/ODIHR's assessment
of the first round of elections and stressed the importance of fully
addressing the deficiencies noted by the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election
Observation Mission Preliminary Report before the second round of
elections in November 2020;
Whereas the Georgian opposition refused to recognize the legitimacy of the
October 2020 elections, boycotted the second round of elections, called
for public voter intimidation of anyone voting in the second round of
elections, and declined to take their seats in parliament;
Whereas, on February 23, 2021, Georgian authorities entered the headquarters of
United National Movement (UNM) and arrested its leader Nikanor Melia on
a bail violation;
Whereas, on March 23, 2021, the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security
Cooperation of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate held a
hearing on Georgia to examine the political situation and to highlight
the actions that the Government of Georgia and the opposition could take
in order to resolve the impasse and move the country forward;
Whereas, in that hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent
testified that the Russian Federation uses its illegal occupation of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, ``economic leverage, cyber attacks, and
disinformation to try to force Georgia to abandon its Euro-Atlantic
aspirations and to sow division and distrust'';
Whereas, at the same hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary Kent testified,
``Georgia has real work to do in strengthening its democracy . . .
Georgia's commitment to democracy and the rule of law is a fundamental
element of our strategic relationship, as well as the precondition for
the country's further progress.''; and
Whereas international mediation efforts to resolve the political impasse in
Georgia led to an agreement signed on April 19, 2021, by representatives
of several political parties and individual Members of Parliament: Now,
therefore, be it
Whereas, on April 9, 1991, Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union,
and on March 24, 1992, the United States and Georgia established formal
diplomatic relations;
Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by
the international community and numerous United Nations Security Council
resolutions;
Whereas, at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) recognized the aspirations of Georgia to join NATO and agreed
that Georgia would become a member of the Alliance;
Whereas, on January 9, 2009, the United States and Georgia signed the United
States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, affirming the close
relationship between the United States and Georgia based on the shared
principles of democracy, free markets, defense and security cooperation,
and cultural exchanges;
Whereas Georgia has made significant contributions to the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and was the largest troop contributor among NATO partners to
the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan;
Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and condemns the
continued occupation by the Russian Federation of the Georgian regions
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Whereas, in March 2020, the United States and several embassies of European
countries in Georgia brokered an agreement among the major political
parties in Georgia, which included changes to the electoral system and
called on all sides to address the appearance of political interference
in the judicial system;
Whereas, on June 29, 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted constitutional
amendments, establishing a more proportional electoral system and
promoting greater political pluralism in future parliaments;
Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi applauded Georgia's electoral
reforms and urged the Parliament of Georgia to pass additional
legislation that fully incorporates all of the recommendations of the
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) and urged Georgian
authorities to effectively implement such legislation;
Whereas, on October 31, 2020, Georgia held its first parliamentary elections
since adopting the electoral reforms in June 2020;
Whereas the OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation team detailed a number of
flaws and partially or completely unimplemented OSCE/ODIHR
recommendations, but also concluded that the first round of the October
2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia was ``competitive and, overall,
fundamental freedoms were respected'';
Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi shared the OSCE/ODIHR's assessment
of the first round of elections and stressed the importance of fully
addressing the deficiencies noted by the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election
Observation Mission Preliminary Report before the second round of
elections in November 2020;
Whereas the Georgian opposition refused to recognize the legitimacy of the
October 2020 elections, boycotted the second round of elections, called
for public voter intimidation of anyone voting in the second round of
elections, and declined to take their seats in parliament;
Whereas, on February 23, 2021, Georgian authorities entered the headquarters of
the United National Movement (UNM) and arrested its leader Nikanor Melia
on a bail violation;
Whereas, on March 23, 2021, the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security
Cooperation of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate held a
hearing on Georgia to examine the political situation and to highlight
the actions that the Government of Georgia and the opposition could take
in order to resolve the impasse and move the country forward;
Whereas, in that hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent
testified that the Russian Federation uses its illegal occupation of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, ``economic leverage, cyber attacks, and
disinformation to try to force Georgia to abandon its Euro-Atlantic
aspirations and to sow division and distrust'';
Whereas, at the same hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary Kent testified,
``Georgia has real work to do in strengthening its democracy . . .
Georgia's commitment to democracy and the rule of law is a fundamental
element of our strategic relationship, as well as the precondition for
the country's further progress.'';
Whereas international mediation efforts to resolve the political impasse in
Georgia led to an agreement signed on April 19, 2021, by representatives
of several political parties and individual Members of Parliament; and
Whereas Georgian authorities pardoned opposition figure Giorgi Rurua, and
Nikanor Melia was released on bail while awaiting final passage of an
amnesty bill, in line with the April 19 agreement: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
<DELETED> (1) calls on Georgian Dream, United National
Movement, and the other parties elected to the Parliament of
Georgia to fully implement the compromise proposed by European
Council President Michel on April 18, 2021, and signed on April
19, 2021;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) calls on all elected Members of Parliament to
take their seats in parliament and begin work without further
delay on the challenges facing Georgia, including consequences
of the COVID-19 pandemic, a weakened economy, and challenging
regional dynamics;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) calls on the Government of Georgia to
institute systemic reforms, developed through an inclusive and
transparent consultation process with stakeholders, to ensure
that the judicial system is impartial and independent and not
used for political or partisan ends, including by fully
adopting and implementing the recommendations of the European
Commission for Democracy through Law (commonly known as the
``Venice Commission'') and other experts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) calls on the Government of Georgia to
institute inclusively and transparently developed systemic
electoral reforms to address the underlying causes of the
political impasse and avoid a recurrence of such a crisis,
including by fully adopting and implementing the
recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) recognizes that the political situation in
Georgia has been exacerbated by the efforts of the Russian
Federation to sow chaos throughout Georgia, including the
illegally occupied territories of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) expresses concern that impediments to
strengthening Georgia's democratic institutions and processes
will slow its progress toward achieving its aspiration of Euro-
Atlantic integration and strengthening its economy and could
result in conditions placed on United States assistance to
Georgia; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) emphasizes that the United States supports a
more robust democracy in Georgia, with governing institutions
that demonstrate integrity, checks and balances, transparency,
the capacity to counter Russian and other malign influence, and
the ability to achieve the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the
people of Georgia.</DELETED>
That the Senate--
(1) welcomes the decision by most political parties in
Georgia to sign the agreement mediated under the auspices of
the European Union and the United States on April 19, 2021;
(2) calls on the United National Movement and other
remaining opposition parties to sign the April 19 agreement
immediately and on all parties to cooperate in good faith with
other parties to fully execute the letter and spirit of the
agreement;
(3) calls on all parties and elected Members of Parliament
to begin work without further delay on the challenges facing
Georgia, including consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, a
weakened economy, further meaningful democratic reforms, and
challenging regional dynamics;
(4) calls on the Government of Georgia, headed by a
coalition led by Georgian Dream, to institute systemic reforms,
developed through an inclusive and transparent consultation
process with stakeholders, to ensure that the judicial system
is impartial, merit-based, and independent and not used for
political or partisan ends, including by fully adopting and
implementing the recommendations of the European Commission for
Democracy through Law (commonly known as the ``Venice
Commission'') and other experts;
(5) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute
inclusively and transparently developed systemic electoral
reforms to address the underlying causes of the political
impasse and avoid a recurrence of such a crisis, including by
fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/
ODIHR);
(6) emphasizes the importance of seeing those electoral
reforms fully implemented ahead of the planned October 2021
municipal elections, which must be conducted in a way that
constitutes a step forward in Georgia's democratic progress,
and should be overseen by strong international election
observation missions;
(7) recognizes that the political situation in Georgia has
been exacerbated by the efforts of the Russian Federation to
sow chaos throughout Georgia, including the illegally occupied
territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
(8) expresses concern that impediments to strengthening
Georgia's democratic institutions and processes will slow its
progress toward achieving its aspiration of Euro-Atlantic
integration and strengthening its economy and could result in
conditions placed on United States assistance to Georgia;
(9) expresses support for the Government of the United
States to seek all means at its disposal to increase trade and
investment between the United States and Georgia and improve
trade and investment in the broader region of the Caucasus, on
the condition that all components of the April 19 agreement are
met in letter and spirit; and
(10) emphasizes that the United States supports a more
robust democracy in Georgia, with governing institutions that
demonstrate integrity, professionalism, checks and balances,
equal treatment under the law, transparency, the capacity to
counter Russian and other malign influence, and the ability to
achieve the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the people of Georgia.
Amend the title so as to read: ``A resolution urging all
remaining parties in Georgia to sign, and seek prompt
implementation of, the compromise political agreement signed on
April 19, 2021, and reaffirming the support of the Senate for
Georgia, the territorial integrity of Georgia, and the
aspirations of Georgians to join the Euro-Atlantic
community.''.
Calendar No. 94
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 176
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Urging all parties in Georgia to seek prompt implementation of the
agreement signed on April 19, 2021, and reaffirming the support of the
Senate for Georgia, the territorial integrity of Georgia, and the
aspirations of Georgians to join the Euro-Atlantic community.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 24, 2021
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble and an
amendment to the title