The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, sends a letter to the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili.

“Dear Madam President,

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the American people to pay tribute to the spirit of the Georgian people on the 16th anniversary of the Russian invasion and subsequent occupation of one-fifth of your country.

On this day, we remember the dead, injured and displaced people as a result of the brutal Russian invasion, and we also see the Kremlin’s constant attempt to increase its dominance over the occupied regions at the expense of the local population. The United States remains a firm supporter of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

I would also like to mention the clear will of the Georgian people, which continues to express its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The United States welcomes the unwavering commitment of the people of Georgia to a democratic future, to which civil society contributes significantly by expressing diverse views and opinions. I am disappointed by the anti-democratic actions of the Georgian government, exemplified by the Kremlin-style “foreign agents” law and false statements by Georgian government officials, which are inconsistent with EU and NATO membership norms. Despite these steps, we remain committed to the population of Georgia and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

During 32 years of bilateral relations, Georgia and the United States have been protecting peace, stability, freedom and human rights together. These common values unite our countries, and I know that these values will unite our peoples in the future as well”, - reads the letter.