Blinken announces freezing of U.S. assistance to Georgia worth more than $95 mln

BRUSSELS. July 31 (Interfax) - The United States is freezing assistance to Georgia worth more than $95 million due to revision of cooperation between the two countries, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

"As a result of that review [of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia], the United States is pausing more than $95 million in assistance that directly benefits the government of Georgia," Blinken said in his statement, released by the U.S. Department of State.

"The Georgian government's anti-democratic actions and false statements are incompatible with membership norms in the EU and NATO," Blinken said.

Nevertheless, Blinken said Washington will continue assisting "activities that benefit the people of Georgia by strengthening democracy, rule of law, independent media, and economic development," the statement said.

The Pentagon said in early July the United States was postponing indefinitely a military exercise with Georgia due to a review of the format of bilateral interaction.

The U.S. Department of Defense said it would continue cooperation with the Georgian Armed Forces.

Blinken said on May 23 the U.S. was starting a review of bilateral relations with Georgia in connection with the law on foreign agents adopted by Tbilisi.