We are deeply concerned about the pre-election environment for the October 26 elections in Georgia, which was marred by vote-buying, voter intimidation, abuse of administrative resources, and dubious appointments to election oversight councils, according to USA congressmen: the head of the USA delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the House Intelligence Committee This was stated in the joint statement of the Chairman Mike Turner and the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Jerry Connolly.

"The October 26 elections offered Georgia an invaluable opportunity to prove to the international community, NATO countries and the European Union that Georgia remains firmly committed to the Euro-Atlantic path. Unfortunately, with campaign rhetoric accusing the West of Russian aggression against Ukraine, passing foreign agent legislation to eliminate civil society, and failing to take responsibility for violent attacks against political opposition figures, the Georgian government failed to prove it. This election, which created significant challenges to the democratic process, significantly distances Georgia from joining NATO and the European Union," the statement said.

Congressmen argue that the widespread pressure on public sector employees to vote for the incumbent party and the refusal to investigate violent attacks on political opponents is authoritarian behavior and a sharp departure from the vibrant, multi-party progressive democracy that once defined Georgia.

"After the October 26 elections, we must state clearly: the United States and all NATO countries stand by the Georgian people and their Euro-Atlantic aspirations," the statement said.