Opposition’s United National Movement party has publicized U.S. Senator Roger Wicker’s letter sent to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia on December 19.

The senator says in the letter that ruling Georgian Dream’s party MPs’ failure to adopt promised of constitutional amendments that envisaged transition to fully proportional electoral system from 2020.

“I know you share my enthusiasm for continued democratic successes in Georgia, which is why I am writing to raise concern over recent developments, Georgian Dream’s party failed to fulfil a critical promise to pass constitutional amendments that would have implemented a fully proportional electoral system for national elections in 2020. These electoral changes enjoy broad domestic support, and international democracy advocates considered them important for strengthening Georgia’s multiparty democracy. Regrettably, the amendments surprise defeat has already begun to damage public confidence in the fairness of next year’s vote, ” the letter reads.

According to the Senator, there is also “concern that a recent spate of criminal prosecutions has created the appearance of the targeting of political opponents and independent media outlets.”

“Recent remarks from Georgian Dream Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili that seem to threaten political opposition with “time in jail” deepen unease about the timing and circumstances of court cases against prominent opposition politicians such as Giga Bokeria and Nika Melia,” the letter reads.

Roger Wicker then speaks about Georgian Parliament’s decision to put 14 judges on the top bench for a lifetime tenure.

“Georgian Dream’s unilateral appointment of 14 judges to life terms on the Supreme Court last week, despite serious questions about some of their legal qualifications, further undercuts public trust in the rule of law. This large number of approved judges also appears to surpass the “number of Supreme Court judges that is absolutely necessary to render the work of Supreme Court manageable” – a standard the Venice Commission recommended to address the low level of public trust in the selections process for judicial nominations,” the Senator writes.

Roger Wicker calls on the Georgian government to move quickly to adopt an electoral system.

“With elections less than a year away, I encourage your government to move quickly to adopt an electoral system that would enjoy broad public support and ensure a level playing field for all. If these measures go unaddressed, the mounting level of distrust in Georgia’s democratic institutions could undercut the legitimacy of the next year’s election and the country’s judiciary writ-large.

As a longstanding champion of the strategic partnership between our two countries, I wish to see Georgia continue to thrive as a free and prosperous society, secure within the full extent of its internationally-recognized borders. In this spirit of cooperation, I hope you will give serious consideration to these concerns and guarantee freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association for all Georgians, consistent with Georgia’s commitments as an OSCE participating state,” the letter reads.