Georgian leaders condemn US Congressional testimonies on foreign influence law as betrayal

The Prime Minister of Georgia and the Chairwoman of the European Integration Committee have labeled the recent speeches by Georgian speakers in the US Congress regarding the foreign influence transparency law as a betrayal. The speeches, which criticized the ruling party’s adoption of the law, were described by the officials as “deeply regrettable”.

The Megobari Act was discussed in the US Congress on June 4, during a hearing by the Helsinki Commission on the current events in Georgia. 

 

The speakers included Ivane Chkhikvadze, head of the European Integration Program of the Civil Society Foundation; Natali Sabanadze, former ambassador of Georgia to the European Union and senior researcher at Chatham House, and William Courtney, former US ambassador to Georgia and senior researcher at the Rand Corporation.Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated, “Yesterday, Vano and Natali spoke about Georgia in what can only be described as an ordinary Bolshevik betrayal, which is very regrettable and sad.”

Chairwoman of the European Integration Committee Maka Botchorishvili expressed gratitude to the Helsinki Commission for what she called “an open lustration.” She criticized the Georgian speakers for accusing the government of taking steps harmful to the country’s European integration, saying, “Watching the citizens of the country whose passport you hold, betraying it, is deeply distressing.”

During the hearing, Chkhikvadze emphasized that the Georgian people’s “clear choice is to align with the European Union and NATO, a choice vocally supported” by demonstrations in Georgia. He criticized the ruling party for ignoring this will and creating a divide between Georgia and the West, warning that the law would silence critical voices and dismantle civil society in Georgia.

Sabanadze compared the “ruling regime’s tactics to Stalinist methods”, accusing it of labeling critical voices as agents. She asserted, “Georgians must fight this battle themselves, but we need friends. Those who ignore our peaceful and democratic will and refuse us the future we want for our children must face the consequences.”

 

The Helsinki Commission, which addresses human rights, democracy, and related issues in over 50 countries, registered the Megobari Act before the Georgian Parliament overcame the President’s veto over the controversial bill earlier this month.  The act aims to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Georgia and includes sanctions for violations.