US House passes EGOBARI Act to pressure Georgia on democracy

The US House has passed the MEGOBARI Act, a bipartisan bill promoting democracy in Georgia and proposing sanctions on officials. As it heads to the Senate, Tbilisi pushes back, warning it could strain US-Georgia ties amid calls to reset relations.

The US House of Representatives has passed the MEGOBARI Act- a major bill aimed at strengthening democracy and accountability in Georgia. Approved by an overwhelming 349 to 42 vote, it now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The Georgia Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Capacity Building and Mobilization Act, known as MEGOBARI, was introduced by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers. The bill expresses support for the Georgian people and proposes sanctions against officials accused of undermining democracy and violating human rights.

Georgia’s ruling party is pushing back. Officials in Tbilisi argue the bill is based on inaccuracies and disinformation, calling it a political move aligned with the country’s opposition. They reject allegations, including corruption claims related to the Anaklia port project, and warn that such actions risk damaging US-Georgia ties.

Tbilisi says it remains ready to reset relations with Washington and hopes the Senate and President Trump will take a different approach, pointing to the country’s history of strategic partnership from joint military missions in Afghanistan and Iraq to shared security interests.

As US lawmakers deliberate, Georgia’s ruling party is also preparing for its internal congress tomorrow, where it will elect new leadership to tackle the country’s ongoing challenges.

For now, the future of the MEGOBARI Act and its potential impact on US-Georgia relations- rests with the Senate.