The U.S. suspends its strategic partnership with Georgia.

“The United States condemns the excessive use of force by the police against Georgians trying to exercise their rights to assembly and expression, including the freedom of peaceful protests,” said a State Department representative.

He urged all parties to ensure the peaceful nature of the protests.

“The anti-democratic actions of the ‘Georgian Dream’ have violated the fundamental principles of the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Georgia, which is based on shared values and a commitment to democracy, the rule of law, civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as opposition to anti-democratic actions. As a result, the U.S. has suspended this mechanism,” said Matthew Miller.

Miller called on the Georgian government to “return to the Euro-Atlantic path, transparently investigate all violations during the parliamentary elections, and repeal anti-democratic laws that restrict the freedom of assembly and expression.”