US Congressman Joe Wilson Addresses Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Nominees Regarding Georgia
Helsinki Commission Chairman, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, has sent a letter to Secretary of State nominee Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and National Security Advisor nominee Representative Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) concerning Georgia.
“Congratulations on your nominations to these critical roles. Your appointments reflect a deep trust in your expertise and commitment to safeguarding our nation’s security and global leadership.
I appreciate the fruitful collaboration we have shared over the years on various issues, including our work on the Caucasus and Georgia, and during the Trump Transition Team’s efforts. These engagements have been invaluable in advancing U.S. interests and upholding our shared values. Our collective work, including the imposition of sanctions on Bidzina lvanishvili, has been a significant step forward. These measures strike at the heart of the de facto Georgian government’s misleading narrative that its alignment with pro-Chinese, Iranian, and Russian interests would find acceptance under President-elect Trump’s leadership, or under any U.S. administration.
The sanctions crucially target the economic system sustaining this regime – a web of corrupt enterprises funneling wealth not only to Ivanishvili and his family, but also to his cronies and rentiers. Disrupting this corrupt network is vital for restoring democracy and sovereignty in Georgia.
Congress is already actively collaborating with the State Department on these issues. As you assume your positions in the new administration, I urge you to prioritize using U.S. law enforcement mechanisms to expose and dismantle Georgian sanctions evasion schemes, scam call centers, and other illicit Georgian Dream enterprises. These operations sustain Ivanishvili’s regime and enable its corrupt cadres to profit from atrocities such as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, which is abetted by Chinese, North Korean, and Iranian complicity. I urge you also to extend sanctions to Ivanishvili’s immediate family members and cronies.
Decisive U.S. action, in coordination with allies, could render these operations untenable, directly undermining the Georgian regime’s ability to maintain its undemocratic grip on power. This is a key opportuinty to advance our shared goals of defending democracy and countering malign influence worldwide. The Axis of Aggressors would be deprived of a significant force multiplier should Georgia return to rule by the Georgian people.
I look forward to working closely with you both in these new capacities and thank you for your unwavering dedication lo these critical matters,” the letter reads.