House Passes Bill to Impose Sanctions on West Asian Nation of Georgia

Epoch Times

06-05-2025

The House passed a bill on May 5 that would impose sanctions on the Georgian Dream Party and others who have undermined the Eastern European country's stability.
The tally was 349–42. Thirty-four Republicans and eight Democrats voted against the
The MEGOBARI Act comes as Georgia has experienced pro-democracy protests since the October 2024 parliamentary election, where the Georgian Dream Party was declared the winner. MEGOBARI stands for 'Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence.' It also means 'friend' in Georgian.
The party is led by Bidzina Ivanishvili and, according to the bill, it 'is increasingly hostile towards independent domestic civil society and its chief Euro-Atlantic partners while increasingly embracing enhanced ties with the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, and other anti-Western authoritarian regimes.'
The measure, which was introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), would require the president, within 90 days of its enactment, to send to Congress a report on who should be sanctioned. Penalties could include denying visas or blocking transactions.
Additionally, the bill would require the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense, to send Congress, within 180 days of its enactment, a report 'examining the penetration of Russian intelligence elements and their assets in Georgia, that includes an annex examining Chinese influence and the potential intersection of Russian-Chinese cooperation in Georgia.'
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The legislation would also require the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to submit to Congress, within 90 days of its enactment, a report about whether Georgia should continue to get U.S. support economically and how the United States and Georgia can improve bilateral ties. The Trump administration has sought to dismantle USAID.
Ahead of the vote, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
'The Republic of Georgia was once a prime contender for NATO and an ally of the U.S., especially following Russia's 2008 invasion,' he said on the House floor.
'The U.S. benefited from military and intelligence cooperation, and the Georgian people are well known for their pro-American sentiment,' he continued. 'Unfortunately, our bilateral relationship with Georgia has been eroded by the ruling Georgian Dream Party's moves that mimic Russia's authoritarian tactics, as well as their rapprochement with China and Iran.'
Mast also said that 'Georgia's strategic location on the Black Sea makes it pivotal for national trade, through the middle corridor to Central Asia, and can be a counterbalance to Iran and Russian influence in the region.'
Alex Raufoglu, a Washington journalist who covers Georgia closely, said that the bill passing the House 'is a huge victory for the people of Georgia, for Georgian democracy, for the U.S.-Georgia relationship, and for Georgia's supporters at home and abroad.'
'Tonight, the Georgian people heard out loud the clear message that they have the U.S.'s backing and that is significant,' he added.