It seems that, some people still haven't heard that we don't use programs to sanction or punish people

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan reiterated in an interview with InterPressNews in response to accusations by the trio who left the Dream that America does not use programs to sanction or punish people.

According to her own statement, the embassy does not interfere with court decisions in Georgia and does not hold secret meetings, as was the case with the judge in the case of the CEO of the Mtavari Channel, Lasha Chkhikvadze.

We, too, question the motives of this distraction from Georgia’s top priority of achieving EU candidate status and the insistence on repeating what has already been identified many times as disinformation. We have repeatedly answered the questions about our long-standing work in Georgia. Since it seems some have still not heard, let me repeat again that we do not use our programs to sanction or punish people and we did not sanction Judge Chkhikvadze. We do not interfere in court decisions in Georgia, and we do not meet in secret. And we did not do so in this case. On the contrary, we regularly work with judges, prosecutors, and attorneys in Georgia to build their legal skills to administer the law in a transparent, impartial manner that is consistent with international practices.

The Embassy is focused on continuing the robust cooperation that has defined the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership over the last three decades. This has been a successful and productive partnership that we are proud of and that has benefited thousands of Georgians.