Ranking Member Shaheen, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge Secretary Rubio to Defend U.S. Personnel Targeted by Georgian Dream Government

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Curtis (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Administration to defend former U.S. personnel who have been unfairly targeted by Georgian officials amid a troubling rise in anti-American rhetoric.

In the letter, the lawmakers called on Secretary Rubio to seek assurances from Georgian authorities that former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) and other personnel employed by the United States will not be maligned or targeted. They also requested that the State Department push back forcefully against dangerous falsehoods spread by Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party that have put former U.S. personnel in harm's way.

"Georgian authorities, led by Georgian Dream, have repeatedly proclaimed a desire to rebuild the bilateral relationship with the United States, but their continued actions and statements indicate otherwise," wrote the lawmakers. "We urge you to seek assurances from the Georgian government that former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) and other personnel employed by the United States will not be maligned or targeted."

"On October 1, media reported that Head of the State Security Service of Georgia Mamuka Mdinaradze accused the U.S. government of fomenting revolution by providing 'payments' to FSNs-which were actually termination (pension) payments required by Georgian law following the termination of U.S. personnel," continued the lawmakers. "His comments were echoed by Georgian Dream politicians. This mischaracterization is putting FSNs in harm's way. The statements also serve as an important data point: Georgian Dream has demonstrated no serious intent of seeking to improve bilateral relations with the United States."

"The United States government depends upon local staff to perform work at the direction of U.S. departments and agencies," concluded the lawmakers. "If we do not defend personnel from attacks by a foreign government, it will limit our ability to recruit personnel and carry out the policy of the United States around the world. We urge you to denounce these attacks and ensure that the State Department pushes back vigorously against the targeting of personnel working on behalf of the United States wherever it may arise."

Full text of the letter is available HERE and provided below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to urge you to use the tools as your disposal to advocate on behalf of former United States personnel who have been unfairly targeted by Georgian officials in the latest wave of anti-American activity. Georgian authorities, led by Georgian Dream, have repeatedly proclaimed a desire to rebuild the bilateral relationship with the United States, but their continued actions and statements indicate otherwise. We urge you to seek assurances from the Georgian government that former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) and other personnel employed by the United States will not be maligned or targeted.

On October 1, media reported that Head of the State Security Service of Georgia Mamuka Mdinaradze accused the U.S. government of fomenting revolution by providing "payments" to FSNs-which were actually termination (pension) payments required by Georgian law following the termination of U.S. personnel. His comments were echoed by Georgian Dream politicians. This mischaracterization is putting FSNs in harm's way. The statements also serve as an important data point: Georgian Dream has demonstrated no serious intent of seeking to improve bilateral relations with the United States.

We welcome the State Department's decision on October 6 to request a meeting with Georgian Ambassador to the United States Tamar Taliashvili to address this matter. We also request that the State Department call on Georgian Dream to formally and publicly recant these dangerous statements. It is important that the Trump Administration addresses this narrative, which poses a danger to U.S. personnel in Georgia and sets a concerning precedent for other foreign governments. It is up to Georgian Dream to pursue a productive bilateral relationship, but FSNs and former U.S. partners must not be exploited as political pawns.

The United States government depends upon local staff to perform work at the direction of U.S. departments and agencies. If we do not defend personnel from attacks by a foreign government, it will limit our ability to recruit personnel and carry out the policy of the United States around the world. We urge you to denounce these attacks and ensure that the State Department pushes back vigorously against the targeting of personnel working on behalf of the United States wherever it may arise.

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