Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker welcomes stalled MEGOBARI Act in US Senate

Georgian Parliament Vice-Speaker Thea Tsulukiani on Thursday welcomed the current stagnation of the MEGOBARI Act in the US Senate, calling it a “favourable sign”.

In her interview with Imedi TV, Tsulukiani asserted that the Act was, in reality, a “hostile act” that significantly harmed the traditional, friendly relations between Georgia and the United States.

“It is encouraging that the so-called MEGOBARI Act has not moved forward in the [US] Senate. Let’s see how events unfold, but this should be regarded as a positive indicator”, she noted.

“The MEGOBARI Act is, in fact, a hostile act that inflicts great damage on traditional, friendly Georgian-American relations. Despite the fact that we no longer hold strategic partnership status, no one and nothing can disrupt this friendship”, the Vice Speaker continued.

Tsulukiani further stressed that Georgia and the United States had been through a great deal together - from the 1990s to joint participation in military operations.

She emphasised that a significant amount of blood had been shed by Georgian soldiers in the fight against global threats, and that this would not be forgotten.

“Still, we are currently facing difficulties. Therefore, it is encouraging that the Act has not yet progressed in the Senate. We will see how things develop, but this should be considered a positive sign”, Tsulukiani concluded.

The passage of the Act has reportedly been halted due to the opposition of three Republican senators, one of whom is a close friend and trusted confidant of the US President.

The Act proposes sanctions and visa restrictions for high-ranking Georgian officials. Its full title is Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act. It is also officially known as the Countering Chinese Communist Party, Iranian Regime, and Russian Federation Malign Influence in Georgia Act. The bill was authored by Congressman Joe Wilson.