Georgian opposition welcomes US House passage of MEGOBARI Act as blow to ruling power

Georgia’s opposition leaders have hailed the passage of the MEGOBARI Act by the United States House of Representatives as a “significant step in holding the country’s ruling party to account,” describing it as international recognition of the Georgian people’s pro-democracy struggle.

The bipartisan legislation - officially titled the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act - passed with overwhelming support, 349 votes in favour, 42 against. It “aims to bolster democratic institutions and counter authoritarian influence in Georgia, amid growing Western concerns over backsliding on reforms.”

In a series of statements, opposition politicians framed the bill as a condemnation of the Georgian Dream government, which they accuse of eroding democratic norms, violating civil liberties, and aligning the country too closely with Russia.

Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the Lelo – Strong Georgia party, described the act as “the Georgian people’s response to all the political crimes, violence, and repressions committed by the ruling party over the past 13 years.”

“The Georgian Dream has truly become a Georgian nightmare,” Khazaradze wrote on social media. He accused the government of undermining the judiciary, stifling civil society, disregarding constitutional norms, and abandoning Georgia’s pro-European path - “most notably through its failure to develop the strategic Anaklia deep-sea port project.”

Giorgi Vashadze, leader of Strategy Aghmashenebeli, emphasized the bill’s bipartisan support in the US as an “extraordinary show of unity.”

“This is a strong, united message from the world’s strongest democracy,” he wrote. “In America, where parties often disagree, this kind of consensus only comes on issues of great principle - and today that principle is the Georgian people’s fight for freedom.”

Vashadze added that the MEGOBARI Act sent a “clear signal” that “America supported the Georgian people, not Ivanishvili,” referring to Georgian Dream’s founder and honorary chair, Bidzina Ivanishvili.