**US House Passes MEGOBARI Act, Targeting Georgian Government**
In a significant move, the US House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan MEGOBARI Act with a strong majority, including 168 Republicans and 181 Democrats. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
The MEGOBARI Act aims to impose sanctions on members and senior officials of the Georgian government found guilty of corruption or obstructing Georgia’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures through violence or intimidation. Immediate family members of those individuals would also be subject to sanctions.
**Reactions from Georgian Politicians**
Georgian Dream, the ruling party, has strongly criticized the bill, calling it a “hostile act” that reflects the deep state’s opposition to President Trump. Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister and Chairman of GD, stated that this decision shows that at that moment, the Deep State won over the Trump administration.
Vladimer Bozhadze, Georgian Dream MP, pointed out that Joe Wilson, a US congressman who authored the bill, has been misrepresenting Georgia’s government. He claimed that Georgia is not a corrupt country and that the MEGOBARI Act is an attack on its legitimacy.
**Support from Pro-Western Forces**
On the other hand, pro-western forces in Georgia have welcomed the US House’s decision. The Coalition for Change stated that the bill is a significant step towards holding accountable Ivanishvili’s authoritarian government and called for the freedom of political prisoners.
Giorgi Vashadze, from Unity-UNM, thanked America for its unanimous support at this decisive moment. He emphasized that the struggle for freedom in Georgia has already yielded results, with the US Congress passing the MEGOBARI Act unanimously.
**What’s Next?**
Now, the bill will move to the Senate for consideration. If passed, it would impose significant pressure on the Georgian government and demonstrate a strong commitment from the international community towards promoting democracy and human rights in Georgia.
As Ana Buchukuri from For Georgia party noted, this legislative act is primarily a political statement that highlights the harm caused by Georgian Dream’s actions over the years. It will be crucial for Georgians to unite and capitalize on this momentum to bring about positive change in their country.
The MEGOBARI Act has sparked heated debates among Georgian politicians, with those from the ruling party criticizing it as an attack on their legitimacy, while pro-western forces see it as a significant step towards holding accountable the authoritarian government.
