The first report on human rights by Donald Trump’s administration is essentially the final nail in the coffin for the illegitimate regime of “Georgian Dream,” which is begging for legitimacy around the world but cannot find it anywhere, said Grigol Gegelia, Foreign Secretary of the “Strong Georgia” coalition, at a briefing in response to the U.S. State Department’s 2024 report on human rights in Georgia.

According to him, the report is highly critical of the government and clearly outlines how freedom is being restricted in the country.

“This is one of the most severe and negative reports, which says that the ‘Georgian Dream’ regime is autocratic and persecutes political opponents. It imprisons journalists, restricts all forms of freedom, and suppresses free thought. The criminal regime of ‘Georgian Dream’ persecutes free Georgians, opponents, and our entire society.

The report also exposes systemic violence and torture by the police. It is a report that repeatedly mentions the so-called titushkas and exposes the ‘Georgian Dream’ regime as a shady, malicious, criminal syndicate whose power relies solely on titushkas roaming the streets of Georgia. The very first conclusion from Trump’s administration is the harshest verdict in the political trial of ‘Georgian Dream’ and directly states that it is a regime that systematically attacks its own citizens and every single manifestation of freedom, with particular hostility toward Georgia’s pro-Western society,” he said.

Gegelia stated that “Georgian Dream” will never be able to normalize relations with Trump’s administration.

“This report confirmed two key things once again. First, there can be no normalization with America and Trump’s administration. Ivanishvili and the deceitful government of ‘Dream’ are isolated and abandoned by everyone. Second, as a continuation of the statements by 19 European foreign ministers and the two resolutions of the European Parliament, this report is yet another clear confirmation that there is and will be no possibility of legitimizing this regime unless new parliamentary elections are called and political prisoners are released. The fight will continue to the end, and the world is on our side,” Gegelia said.

For reference, the U.S. State Department’s report assessing the human rights situation in Georgia in 2024 stated that among significant negative developments in the field of human rights were:

“The so-called ‘Law on Family Values and the Protection of Minors,’ which criminalized certain types of expression, as well as campaigns of intimidation, coercion, and abuse of administrative resources, which restricted freedom of expression, particularly in relation to the October parliamentary elections.”

The document also noted that while the government took steps to investigate and punish certain officials who committed human rights violations, impunity remained a problem.

According to the report, in late November and during December, “the government or unidentified attackers, who were allegedly acting on behalf of the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ party, violently attacked dozens of members of the media covering protest rallies. The attacks included beatings and the use of pepper spray, tear gas, and water cannons. Reports of serious injuries included spinal fractures, facial bone fractures, and chemical burns. Several journalists required hospitalization.”