Georgian Parliament Speaker slams US “Megobari Act” as “Act of Ingratitude”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday strongly criticised a recently proposed US congressional initiative MEGOBARI Act, referring to it as an “Act of ingratitude” toward Georgian people, state, and Government, specifically the ruling Georgian Dream party administration.

In his remarks over the Megobari Act, a bipartisan bill that envisages sanctions against the Georgian Dream Government officials, Papuashvili emphasised Georgia's unwavering support for the United States during critical times, particularly in military operations.

“When NATO member states had only symbolic contingents in Afghanistan, some not even participating at all - such as the Baltic states, which now present themselves as always ready to take up arms- Georgia deployed almost 1,000 and, at times, 1,500 troops. We were the fourth-largest contributor in Afghanistan, standing by the American people and Government”, the Speaker said.

Papuashvili highlighted the sacrifices made by Georgian soldiers, noting the loss of dozens of lives and the injuries sustained by hundreds more during the mission.

“Several dozen of our soldiers lost their lives, and several hundred were wounded in this mission. Our contribution amounted to nearly $2 billion. Therefore, when we see certain politicians initiating such an act, it is nothing but ingratitude toward the Georgian people, our soldiers, and the Georgian Government”, he concluded.