The US House of Representatives has passed the MEGOBARI.ACT bill — formally titled the Mobilising and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act — a legislative measure that could impose sanctions and visa restrictions on senior Georgian officials and initiate a comprehensive reassessment of US-Georgia relations.
The bill includes provisions for penalties against top figures from Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party and its supporters, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.
These measures are aimed at individuals whom the US accuses of engaging in corrupt practices that have undermined Georgia's path toward Euro-Atlantic integration.
The legislation also calls for a full review of all US assistance programs to Georgia, potentially affecting a broad range of political, economic, and civil society partnerships between the two countries.
“We will support civil society, which defends the Georgian people and the Constitution of Georgia from abuses of power by the Georgian Dream government,” reads a passage from the bill, as reported by Georgian media outlets.
The MEGOBARI.ACT — referred to as a “friendship” bill by its authors — must still pass the Senate before being submitted to US President Donald Trump for final approval.
However, officials from Georgia’s ruling party have strongly criticised the legislation. In April, representatives of Georgian Dream described the bill as “hostile” and accused the US of siding with the opposition.
“This is a hostile act against Georgia that is aimed at supporting opposition forces trying to overthrow the government elected by the people through revolutionary means,” said Archil Gorduladze, Chairman of the Georgian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, during a press briefing.
By Tamilla Hasanova
Source: caliber.az
scorpion.az