U.S. House Passes MEGOBARI Act Targeting Georgia's Ruling Party
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
On May 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan MEGOBARI Act with overwhelming support 349 votes in favor (168 Republicans, 181 Democrats) and 42 against. The bill now moves to the Senate for debate and a vote before reaching the President for potential enactment.
Named after the Georgian word for "friend," the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act authorizes the U.S. president to impose sanctions on Georgian Dream (GD) officials and affiliates, along with their immediate family members who are found to have engaged in corruption or used violence and intimidation to hinder Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
Lawmakers across party lines voiced support during deliberations. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) condemned GD's "Russia-style authoritarian tactics," while Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) called the bill a response to Georgia's deteriorating democracy. Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) said the GD government is illegitimate, accusing it of anti-Western propaganda, election rigging, and violent repression of protests. Only Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) opposed the bill during debate, calling it "wrongheaded" and urging an "America First" foreign policy.
Georgia's 5th President Salome Zourabichvili said the adoption of the MEGOBARI Act signals a serious step by the U.S., targeting individuals behind Georgia's current political crisis, with calls for regime change.
The ruling Georgian Dream party described the act as hostile. MP Vladimer Bozhadze repeated the narrative about the "deep state" and portrayed the bill as part of a smear campaign by foreign-funded opposition. GD Deputy Speaker Levan Machavariani and MP Givi Mikanadze dismissed the legislation as an insult and "radical," while accusing sponsors like Rep. Wilson of lobbying for Georgia's opposition.
