Category: Statements

Statement on the Independence Day 2022

May 26, 2022

Washington, DC. USA

May 26 is a precious commemoration for Georgia. It is a reminder in these times of how important sovereignty and independence is to a nation and to the peoples who make up the nation.  Self-government is the ultimate good for a democracy like Georgia. It gives the nation its greatest gift – the ability to determine its present and its future.  In the past, Georgia was surrounded by ambitious empires, and always faced problems of national security. In the most difficult of circumstances in 1918, Georgia re-established a republic.  

When the USSR collapsed in 1991, the Georgian people reasserted their country’s sovereignty once more. This is what we celebrate today, the triumph of a sovereign people over the tyranny of external oppression. Self-government and accountable government are central pillars of Georgia’s independence and prosperity today and in the future. 

On behalf of the Georgian Association in the USA, we wish all of Georgia a happy independence day. For our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, we wish for peace and victory over Russia and other external forces which are attempting to subvert the Ukrainian people’s will. To quote Ilia Chavchavadze, “even if the present is not favorable, the future is ours.” 

Board of Directors,

Georgian Association in the USA

Statement on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

The Georgian Association in the United States strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked and unjust full-scale invasion of Ukraine and calls on the United States and democracies around the world to continue pressure and action in support of the Ukrainian people in their brave fight for their territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence, and democracy. We commiserate with the suffering of the Ukrainian people and others who have made Ukraine their home.

Georgia has firsthand experience in facing a Russian invasion and continued occupation of its internationally recognized territories, with long-term humanitarian, political, economic, social, and security consequences. The Russian assault on Ukraine reaffirms the Kremlin’s belief that its neighbors like Ukraine and Georgia do not have the right to national sovereignty and to pursue the democratic future they desire. Given Russia’s repressive and authoritarian government, Putin views flourishing democracies around Russia’s borders as threats to his regime. Thus, left undeterred, this aggression represents a threat to all of Europe and the many democratic gains since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. 

The United States and its allies in the West must confront this threat from Russia with the seriousness that it deserves. We should not allow Moscow to create another protracted conflict in the region, with hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, disrupted economy, and hopes for democracy shattered as they have done in Georgia. We call on the United States to reflect on lessons from the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 and do what it can to stand up to Moscow’s attempt to suppress the democratic aspirations of its neighbor.

Below are some resources on how you can support the people of Ukraine in their fight for their country’s independence and democratic future.


Strength is in Unity! (ძალა ერთობაშია!)

– The Board of Directors, The Georgian Association in the United States 

CEEC statement on Belarus

[pdf-embedder url=”https://georgian.merlewine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CEEC-Belarus-statement-v5.pdf”]

CEEC Letter to President Trump on Troop Withdrawal from Germany

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear Mr. President:

The Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), representing over 20 million Americans of central and eastern European heritage, is writing to express our concern over the prospect of withdrawing large numbers of American troops from Germany. Such a move would directly weaken the security of frontline states like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – and of the United States and the rest of NATO by extension; reduce U.S. influence in Europe; and embolden Russian President Putin to continue or increase his aggressive policies that threaten European democracy and transatlantic security.

These U.S. forces in Germany are what give operational credibility to American and NATO forces operating out of Poland and the Enhanced Forward Presence battalions in the Baltic nations. Many members of our communities have served in the U.S. armed forces, often in the European theater, and understand that Germany holds a unique position in the transatlantic alliance. Cleary, it has not yet increased its defense spending to the 2% threshold members pledged over ten years at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales. At the same time, the German government has allowed the U.S. and other allies to build bases, airfields, hospitals and communities, and host tens of thousands of servicemembers and their families, on German soil. This is an indispensable contribution to the success of NATO and the deterrence the alliance has enforced since 1949. The infrastructure and force presence established in Germany cannot be reduced or replicated elsewhere without compromising the military power they have come to represent.

NATO’s continued success depends on solidarity and strengthening the trust and relationships built among its allies over seven decades. Withdrawing U.S. forces from Germany would gravely undermine that trust and those relationships. The CEEC calls for U.S. policy and action that uphold the long history of American leadership in NATO to ensure that transatlantic security remains strong and effective. To this end, we ask that U.S. force levels in Germany remain at their current levels or higher.

The CEEC was established in 1994 and represents more than 20 million American voters whose heritage lies in this region. Its member organizations cooperate in calling attention to issues of mutual concern, especially as regards United States policy toward Central and East Europe. The CEEC regularly shares its concerns and ideas with the United States Congress and Administration.

We thank you for your consideration on this vitally important issue to U.S. national security. Please contact the undersigned at karinshueyeanc@gmail.com with any questions or comments.

 

On behalf of the CEEC,

Karin A. Shuey

Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Washington, DC Director

Estonian American National Council

Cc: Secretary of Defense

Secretary of State

Chairman and Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee

Chairman and Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee

 

[pdf-embedder url=”https://georgian.merlewine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CEEC-letter-to-Pres-on-troops.pdf” title=”CEEC letter to Pres on troops”]

Georgian Association Statement on 2008 August War

August has a special meaning for Georgians. On August 7, 2008, military forces from the Russian government supporting separatists from Abkhazia and South Ossetia invaded Georgia resulting in the five-day Russo-Georgia war. Georgia suffered numerous casualties, and thousands of citizens were displaced and many still to this day. Although a cease-fire was negotiated between Georgia and the Russian government on August 12, 2008, the latter still occupies Georgia’s sovereign territory. The Russian government violates international norms in Georgia by annexing property, arbitrarily changing boundaries, destroying housing in the Tskhinvali region, and seizing farmland. It has also conducted kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, murders, harassment, and intimidation of private citizens. Georgians are historically resilient people and proud of their culture and traditions, and have earned the respect and support of the United States government. The U.S. government continues to press the Russian government to remove its troops and paramilitary forces from sovereign Georgian territory, and most recently Secretary of State Michael Pompeo reiterated U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty in a call with Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Georgia has survived many invasions of its territory dating back centuries. It will survive this most recent illegal incursion by the Russian government.

The Georgian Association in the USA stands with all Georgians in remembrance of this dark time in Georgia’s history, but one from which the county will continue on its path to a stronger democracy and economic power in eastern Europe.

 

Georgian Association statement regarding illegal detention of Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili

The Georgian Association in the United States, Inc. is alarmed and expresses its deep concern with the rising tensions and expansion of the humanitarian crisis at the occupation line of Georgia’s Russian-controlled Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).

On November 9, 2019, the occupation regime illegally detained Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili, a well-known Georgian physician and president of the Georgian Association of Orthopedic Traumatologists. On November 15, 2019 he was sentenced to two months of pretrial detention. Dr. Gaprindashvili was detained while providing urgent medical help to a gravely injured local resident of the occupied Akhalgori district. The story of the patient’s condition and refusal of the Russian-controlled de facto authorities in Tskhinvali to transport the patient to Tbilisi has been widely reported. Following the arbitrary closure of the Mosabruni checkpoint by the de facto authorities in September of 2019, the local population has become totally isolated resulting in several deaths due to lack of access to adequate medical care.

The detention of Dr. Vazha Gaprindashvili while fulfilling his duty as a doctor runs counter to all internationally recognized human rights.

The Georgian Association calls on US government representatives to:

– actively support efforts of the Georgian Government and International community to achieve the prompt release of Dr. Gaprindashvili from illegal custody;
– work with all sides involved to overcome the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories and ensure local residents’ access to qualified medical care;

Statement of Georgian Association in the USA on the latest Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Georgian Association in the USA strongly condemns the latest Russian aggression against Ukraine.  The attack and seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels and crew members, some of whom were injured, is the latest incident in Russia’s incursion on its neighbors and a violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.  While Russia’s motives in this latest action and next steps may be unclear, Russia continues to ignore international norms of behavior as it attempts to unlawfully increase its presence in the eastern European region by whatever means it deems necessary.  Their aggressiveness is a threat to all freedom loving people.  The Georgian Association stands with the citizens of Ukraine in reaffirming support of its independence.

In memory of Senator John McCain

The Georgian-American community and nation of Georgia are deeply grateful to late Senator John McCain for his long-standing and unconditional support for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic development  of the Republic of Georgia. We mourn the passing of this great American, one of Georgia’s truest friends.

 

McCain Award Photo McCain with the GA

Ten Years of Occupation

2018 marks two important dates for the country of Georgia.  In May, all Georgians, including many Georgian-Americans, commemorated Georgia’s 100th birthday.  The modern state of Georgia began its life in 1918 and survived three years (1918-1921) before falling to a Communist invasion and almost seventy years of Soviet oppression.  2018 also marks the 10-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Georgia.  On August 8, 2008, Russian forces, some 80,000 strong, swept into Georgia once more.  The pretext was that Russia was responding to a Georgian attack on the separatist enclave of South Ossetia. This ignores the context of almost weekly provocations by Russia leading up to August 2008. Today, in violation of the cease-fire agreement agreed upon in 2008, Georgia remains occupied by Russian troops. They are visible from the main highway which connects East and West Georgia, and are located just 40 miles from Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital city. “Temporary” housing built to house Georgians displaced by the war are also visible from the highway.  The cease-fire line continues to advance into Georgian territory, as Ossetian irregulars and their Russian backers arbitrarily shift the border further onto Georgian land.  This creeping “borderization” deprives Georgian farmers of access to their lands and homes, and leads to provocations, arrests and the murder of Georgian citizens by Russian border guards.

Georgians worldwide are extraordinarily proud of the longevity of their culture and traditions. They have a unique language, are Orthodox Christians, and are dedicated to the preservation of their culture, and their historical connections to the West.

Georgia (Sakartvelo to Georgians) is an ancient land that predated the formation of Rus or Russia. Georgia has survived despite the many invasions and foreign interlopers who have sought to control the strategically placed land which Georgians inhabit. Georgia’s orientation was always westward, and it remains so today.  But Georgia is occupied, Russia continues to meddle in its internal affairs, and Georgia’s Western friends are preoccupied.  Georgia was the first Ukraine.  There should be no concessions to Russia until it observes the conditions of the peace agreement of 2008, which Russia itself signed.

The Georgian Association in the USA believes that Western silence in the face of the ongoing Russian occupation of Georgia will encourage Russia to continue its meddling in the sovereignty of other countries.  The United States Congress and European Union should all make plain their opposition to such Russian behavior, which is a threat not only to Georgia and the region, but to global peace.