UK Foreign Secretary David Lamm has announced that the UK is immediately suspending programmatic support to the Georgian government, in response to the government's use of violence against demonstrators and journalists and its disregard for the country's constitutional commitment to European integration.
"The shocking scenes of violence against protesters and journalists by the Georgian authorities are unacceptable and must stop."
These actions undermine Georgia's international positions and contradict Georgia's constitutional commitment to a European future.
In light of current events, the United Kingdom is immediately suspending programmatic support to the Georgian government, limiting defense cooperation, and reducing engagement with representatives of the Georgian Dream government until the backsliding from European democratic norms and freedoms ceases.
"The United Kingdom will continue to stand with the people of Georgia and support their right to choose the future of their country," said British Foreign Secretary David Lamm.
In parallel, the twelfth day of protests is underway in Tbilisi, which is related to the decision made by the government, approved by the Georgian Dream's one-party parliament, on November 28 to suspend the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union for 4 years. During the 12 days of protests, special forces in Tbilisi detained hundreds of protesters under administrative rules, and hundreds of citizens suffered health injuries as a result of violence and inhuman treatment by special forces.
