This reaction of the US and our international partners clearly indicates only one thing: that the salvation of Georgia will be possible only without the oligarchic regime and Bidzina Ivanishvili, – this was stated by one of the leaders of the “United National Movement,” Ana Tsitlidze, at a briefing, responding to the statement of the United States Embassy, in which concern was expressed about the Georgian government’s Directorate for Combating Hate Speech.

According to her, the US does not arrange relations with those regimes that arrest journalists for freedom of expression, commit violence against their own citizens, and turn the country into isolation.

“The assessment from the US side regarding what is happening in Georgia today is very natural. When journalists – Vakho Sanaia and Mzia Amaghlobeli – are arrested for freedom of expression, it is clear that our international partners will have the reaction that the US had. ‘Georgian Dream’ knows very well that they will not be able to arrange relations either with the US or with the European Union for one very simple reason. They do not arrange relations with those regimes that arrest journalists, politicians, and ordinary citizens for freedom of expression; with those regimes that undermine Georgia’s democratic development; that poison, bloodstain, and commit violence against the citizens of Georgia and turn their own country into isolation; that cause it to lose the most important European future, which is directly connected with Georgia’s freedom and national identity. This reaction of the US and our international partners clearly indicates only one thing: that the salvation of Georgia will be possible only without the oligarchic regime and Bidzina Ivanishvili. I am sure that this decision will necessarily be followed by concrete effective steps from the US. I remind you of the rhetoric of ‘Georgian Dream,’ when they were deceiving their voters as if the Biden administration was hung up on them. They would arrange relations when the Trump administration came. This is a statement that was made under the conditions of the Trump administration and was made in a very sharp language, where it was directly said that what is happening in Georgia today is [against] freedom of expression and has no connection whatsoever with democracy and development,” – Ana Tsitlidze stated.

For reference, as the US Embassy told Radio Liberty, they firmly oppose censorship and those restrictive laws that are used to silence people with undesirable views. The Embassy made this statement in response to a question asked in the context of the detention of journalist Vakho Sanaia.

“We are concerned about the Georgian government’s Directorate for Combating Hate Speech. The best response to lies and false views is more freedom of speech, not enforced silence,” – the statement says.