The U.S. Senate calls on all parties to sign and implement the April 19 agreement

The United States Senate has issued a new resolution on Georgia, calling on political parties to work for the full implementation of the April 19 agreement. The Senate also calls on the United National Movement to sign the Charles Michel Agreement.

We offer you the resolutions unchanged:

Whereas international mediation efforts to resolve the political impasse in Georgia led to an agreement signed on April 19, 2021, by representatives of several political parties and individual Members of Parliament: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) calls on Georgian Dream, United National Movement, and the other parties elected to the Parliament of Georgia to fully implement the compromise proposed by European Council President Michel on April 18, 2021, and signed on April 19, 2021;

(2) calls on all elected Members of Parliament to take their seats in parliament and begin work without further delay on the challenges facing Georgia, including consequences of the COVID–19 pandemic, a weakened economy, and challenging regional dynamics;

(3) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute systemic reforms, developed through an inclusive and transparent consultation process with stakeholders, to ensure that the judicial system is impartial and independent and not used for political or partisan ends, including by fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (commonly known as the “Venice Commission”) and other experts;

(4) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute inclusively and transparently developed systemic electoral reforms to address the underlying causes of the political impasse and avoid a recurrence of such a crisis, including by fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR);

(5) recognizes that the political situation in Georgia has been exacerbated by the efforts of the Russian Federation to sow chaos throughout Georgia, including the illegally occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;

(6) expresses concern that impediments to strengthening Georgia's democratic institutions and processes will slow its progress toward achieving its aspiration of Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening its economy and could result in conditions placed on United States assistance to Georgia; and

(7) emphasizes that the United States supports a more robust democracy in Georgia, with governing institutions that demonstrate integrity, checks and balances, transparency, the capacity to counter Russian and other malign influence, and the ability to achieve the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the people of Georgia.