U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chair of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, along with Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), co-chairs of the House Georgia Caucus, released the following statement on developments in Georgia:

“The Georgian government’s decision to violently raid the United National Movement headquarters to arrest its leader, Nika Melia, and dozens of activists is profoundly troubling. The corrupt use of Georgia’s law enforcement and judiciary to execute politically-motivated actions jeopardizes what remains of Georgia’s democracy and its Euro-Atlantic path. We call for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Mr. Melia and Giorgi Rurua. All political parties in Georgia must cease provocations and negotiate a peaceful resolution to this crisis”, - reads the joint statement