GD Parliament: MEGOBARI Act “Extremely Hostile” and “Factually Flawed”

On May 14, the Georgian Dream Parliament issued a scathing critical statement criticizing the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the MEGOBARI Act, and labeling it a “extremely hostile” and “factually flawed”. Calling the act a “hostile act against the Georgian state, its people, and its government” the statement claims that the “deep state” is behind its passage and the “unfair attitude”, and warns the U.S. Congress that the Act will damage its reputation.

In the statement, Parliament rejects the claims outlined in the bill, which it calls “three false accusations”: substantial democratic backsliding in Georgia, obstruction of Euro-Atlantic integration by the GD government, and the establishment of “inappropriate ties” with Russia, China, and Iran. The statement dismisses these claims as a product of disinformation and “deep state” manipulation.

Democracy

The Georgian Dream Parliament responds to the section of the bill addressing democratic backsliding by highlighting reforms and international rankings since 2012, which it alleges show a different picture. GD cites constitutional changes, reductions in prison populations and inmate deaths, and alleges improvements in judicial independence and media pluralism. Parliament references data from organizations such as the World Justice Project, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Fraser Institute to argue that Georgia outperforms several European Union states in press freedom, judicial transparency and anti-corruption efforts.

Reporters Without Borders, last week noted a decline in media freedom. In its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Georgia dropped from 103rd to 114th place. Journalists have reported physical assaults, while some, including Mzia Amaghlobeli, have faced detention.

Parliament praises Georgian elections as free and fair, its state institutions are transparent and accountable. The statement further says that the right to peaceful assembly is protected under the highest standards.

There is no mention of the most recent criticism by both local and international rights groups, which have recorded and accused law enforcement of using excessive force, police violence, and unlawful detentions during protests in November and December 2024. Moreover the statement claims that in November and December 2024, “the authorities suppressed a 5-day, extremely violent attempt to overthrow the constitutional order in such a way that none of the participants suffered long-term health consequences when the assemblies were being dispersed…”

The statement claims that the “deep state” and its institutions have been trying to undermine democracy in Georgia, adding that “in 2023-2024, the main line of attack on democracy in the country was related to the laws adopted by the Georgian Parliament, which provided for transparency in funding from USAID, NED and other similar funds and restrictions on LGBT propaganda.”

Euro-Atlantic Integration

As for the county’s U-turn on Euro-Atlantic integration path, GD lawmakers use as an alibi, the argument that it was the current leadership that enshrined NATO and EU aspirations in the constitution in 2017. Georgian Dream parliament blames “a restrained position” of partner countries rather than domestic policy for stalled accession process, referencing the 2023 receipt of the EU candidate status as a milestone, which was reached despite “unjust” EU bureaucracy.

“Georgia is still trying to cope with this unfair approach, which creates the only artificial barrier on its path to European integration,” the Parliament statement reads.

Regarding NATO, the statement states that the U.S. and the alliance do not foresee enlargement involving Georgia or Ukraine in the medium term, thus making further domestic lobbying “impractical”.

Relations with Russia, China and Iran

The Parliament denounces as false the suggestion that Georgia maintains inappropriate relations with authoritarian regimes. It points out that Georgia has no diplomatic relations with Russia due to the occupation by the latter of 20% of Georgian territory, no high-level visits to Moscow have occurred since 2012, and trade share with Russia is under 12%.

The statement also notes that Georgia has aligned with more than 600 international acts supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemned Russian aggression.

The statement also says that Georgia’s neighbors have closer relations with Russia, than Georgia does.

On China, the GD lawmakers argue that their relations are in line with those maintained by many U.S. allies. On relations with Iran, GD Parliament notes with regret that they “unfortunately, are not even at the same level as Iran has with other countries in the region.” The statement describes criticism over the Prime Minister’s attendance at the Iranian president’s inauguration as “speculation, which again indicates injustice and double standards.”

Warnings and Wishes

“All these lies and injustices confirm that the so-called MEGOBARI Act is dictated by the “harsh, hostile attitude of the “deep state” towards Georgia,” the statement reads. It further claims: “The United States Congress, instead of acting independently of the “deep state” and asking the new US administration to lift the unjust sanctions imposed by the previous administration, is even demanding that it impose new sanctions.”

The GD Parliament then warns the U.S. Congress that by initiating the MEGOBARI Act, it is “causing the same reputational damage to itself” as the European Parliament, claiming that after the latter’s critical resolutions, “the Georgian people no longer take its decisions seriously.”

The GD Parliament further laments, that the Congress founded by the American Founding Fathers and “one known as citadel of democracy, on May 5,2025 severely damaged its image and reputation in the eyes of the Georgian public.”

The statement then explains “the harsh, unfair attitude towards the country and double standards” by the fact that “the “deep state” could not forgive Georgia that its government didn’t fulfill the demand to open a second front made by its representative during meetings with top government officials.”

The GD Parliament hopes that the “new United States administration will successfully weaken the “deep state”, as a result of which the US Congress will regain its former glory and reputation…”

The statement follows a letter published a day earlier by Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. The letter anticipates the imminent discussion of the MEGOBARI Act in the U.S. Senate. Written in a frustrated tone, the letter expresses the government’s grievance that its offers to restart relations with the U.S. “from a clean slate” have gone unnoticed.

Also Read:

• 14/05/2025 – Domestic Reactions to Irakli Kobakhidze’s Open Letter to President Trump
• 09/05/2025 – Georgia Not Invited to Informal EU Meeting in Warsaw
• 07/05/2025 – Political Reactions in Georgia to MEGOBARI Act

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