Georgian President slams MEGOBARI Act as political pressure tool

President Mikheil Kavelashvili has sharply criticized the recently passed US MEGOBARI Act, calling it a politically motivated instrument designed to pressure the current Georgian government and promote government change. Speaking on Imedi TV, Kavelashvili claimed the act was conceived and implemented by elements of the previous US administration and remains part of a broader campaign against Georgia’s leadership.

“The MEGOBARI Act is a process initiated by the old US administration, targeting us directly. This is not a decision that requires Senate or Congressional approval for the US President to act on. If the President has information, he has the full authority to take action — and this law is just a tool for doing that," the Georgian President said.

Kavelashvili accused unnamed political parties and NGOs of being directly involved in a coordinated effort to discredit the Georgian government, stating that the act is intended to manipulate public perception and fuel internal unrest.

“This act is part of a deliberate campaign to confuse the public, create dissatisfaction, and ultimately trigger a change in government,” he claimed. “It’s not even hidden — they openly admit that the MEGOBARI Act is meant to apply pressure on the current administration.”

Despite the criticism, the Georgian president insisted the country remains politically stable and governed within constitutional frameworks.
The MEGOBARI Act (Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence), passed by the US House of Representatives on May 5 with a bipartisan vote of 349–42, has also been registered in the US Senate. The act aims to support democratic institutions and counter foreign authoritarian influence in Georgia, particularly from Russia, China, and Iran.

The legislation urges the US government to reassess its relationship with the Georgian government if it strays from its Euro-Atlantic integration path. It also mandates regular reporting on Russian intelligence operations and sanctions evasion in Georgia and authorizes sanctions against individuals deemed to be undermining Georgian democracy.