We’re urging the Georgian Government to strictly respect the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, said Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State.

“QUESTION: I wanted to get your reaction to the brutal attacks on the protesters in Georgia during the past 24 hours, even before that.

MR PATEL: We condemn the excessive use of force by police against Georgian protesters seeking to exercise their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, including their ability to peacefully protest. The U.S. is deeply concerned by reports of the detention and assault of journalists, and recognizing that a free press, we believe, is a cornerstone of a democratic system. We’re continuing to call on all sides to ensure protests remain peaceful, and we are urging the Georgian Government to strictly respect the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.

QUESTION: When is the right time for you to impose the sanctions on the person who has organized this massive, massive violence in Georgia? And I’m speaking about the founder of the Georgian Dream Party.

MR PATEL: So look, I’m not going to preview or speculate on any actions the U.S. may or may not take. What I can say – what we are focused on right now is engaging with the Georgian Government and emphasizing to them the strong responsibility they have to respect the rule of law, respect human rights, and respect fundamental freedoms, which we continue to believe are the foundation of Georgia’s own Euro-Atlantic aspirations”.