LOOT/LOROT: Liberation of occupied territories/liberation of Russian-occupied territories. See reference to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine below.

Civil Georgia
April 7, 2022

U.S. House Foreign Committee Adopts Georgia Support Act

“[It] is critical that the Georgian Government speak with one, unified voice.”

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the Georgia Support Act, introduced in February 2021 by Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), the co-chairs of the Congressional Georgia Caucus.

The document [H.R. 923], aiming to support Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, stipulates that the U.S. should support…its European and Euro-Atlantic integration….

The bill asserts that the U.S. should not recognize Georgia’s territorial changes effected by force, including the illegal invasions and occupations of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia by Russia.

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Taking the note of U.S. providing Georgia in 2018 with USD 2 mln. assistance under the International Military Education and Training program (IMET) and USD 35 mln. under the Foreign Military Financing program (FMF), the bill says the said assistance should be increased.

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The bill tasks the U.S. government to enhance Georgia’s capabilities to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda campaigns….

It reads that U.S. should assist Georgia to improve its cybersecurity….

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Also, according to the bill, U.S. President shall sanction foreign nationals responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing the commission of serious human rights abuses in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly occupied by Russia.

During the April 5 mark-up, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks said “with Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, timing of this bill could not be more important. Russia currently occupies 20% of Georgia’s territory.”

Rep Meeks asserted that “more than ever, these countries [Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova] need to stand together with our full, solid support.”

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“In the face of Russian occupation within their own borders, Georgia’s President and the Georgian people have expressed their staunch and public support for Ukraine. And, going forward, it is critical that the Georgian Government speak with one, unified voice.”

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Agenda.ge
April 8, 2022

Parliament Speaker: Georgia to fulfill “human and historical duty” in supporting Ukraine despite “unfair and unfounded” allegations

Supporting Ukraine is a human and historical duty of the Georgian Government and the latter is intent on fulfilling it despite the “unfair and unfounded allegations” heard from Ukrainian authorities, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Friday.

Papuashvili was commenting on an invitation of the Ukrainian authorities for him to visit the city of Bucha to observe the facts of the atrocities committed by Russian troops before they withdrew from the location.

The Georgian official declined the visit by saying it would be “inappropriate” on the backdrop of what he called “demands [by Ukrainian officials] for opening a second front [against Russia] in Georgia”, “diplomatic demonstrations” by Ukrainian representatives, and “baseless accusations” of products being sanctioned through Georgian territory by Russia to avoid sanctions.

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