NC South Carolina Times

U.S. Helsinki Chairman Congressman Joe Wilson and Ranking Member Congressman Steve Cohen have introduced the Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act, designated as HR-243. This legislative proposal aims to prevent the United States from acknowledging the Ivanishvili regime in Georgia, while recognizing Salome Zourabichvili as the legitimate President of Georgia until free and fair elections are conducted.

Chairman Wilson emphasized the U.S. Congress's historical stance against recognizing illegitimate regimes. He stated, "The United States Congress has a long tradition of not recognizing illegitimate regimes. We do not, and never have, recognized the Russian occupation of Ukrainian Crimea or Georgian South Ossetia and Abkhazia." He further referenced past actions such as his Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act to illustrate consistent policy efforts.

Ranking Member Cohen criticized the current state of affairs in Georgia under Ivanishvili’s leadership. "The Georgian Dream has become the Georgian Nightmare," he remarked, accusing Ivanishvili’s party of becoming a tool for Putin and falsifying elections. Cohen stressed that "the United States cannot and will not recognize this illegitimate government."

Both congressmen expressed confidence that their proposed act would contribute to isolating the Ivanishvili regime internationally until democratic processes are restored in Georgia.