Georgian ruling party MP slams US MEGOBARI Act as ‘shameful document’

Davit Matikashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday criticised the MEGOBARI Act, a proposed US bill that targets Georgian officials, calling it a “shameful document” and accusing shadowy global forces of meddling in the country’s affairs.

The MP made the remarks as the US House of Representatives is set to debate the bill later during the day. 

“This shameful document in no way represents the spirit of friendship with Georgia,” Matikashvili said, alleging the influence of what he termed the Global Deep State. “It is very clearly and unequivocally visible here,” the lawmaker claimed. 

The MEGOBARI Act - formally titled the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act — was reintroduced in the 119th US Congress by Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), with co-sponsorship from Steve Cohen (D-TN), Richard Hudson (R-NC), and Marc Veasey (D-TX).

The bill passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 27 March and is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives.

According to its sponsors, the legislation reaffirms support for the Georgian people and authorises sanctions on Georgian officials found responsible for human rights abuses or efforts to undermine democratic institutions.

Matikashvili, however, expressed hope that relations with Washington would be “reset” under the new US administration.

“We have completely different expectations from the new US administration,” he said, referencing what he saw as “shared values” between Georgia’s current leadership and US President Donald Trump. “We hope these shameful documents will not be an obstacle to the re-establishment of Georgian-American relations.”