Statement by the Parliament of Georgia on the so-called MEGOBARI Act adopted by the US House of Representatives

The so-called MEGOBARI Act relies on three key false accusations arguing that A) major
democratic backsliding is underway in Georgia, B) Georgia’s authorities are blocking Euro-
Atlantic integration, and C) Georgia is establishing inappropriate ties with ‘Russia, China, and
other authoritarian regimes’ - as clarified later, by ‘authoritarian regimes’ the Act means Iran.
The so-called MEGOBARI Act requires no special analysis because even a quick glance reveals
the spirit of animosity toward Georgia, the Georgian people, and Georgia’s authorities, not to
mention that the document is technically flawed, containing numerous factual errors and logical
contradictions.
Still, we believe that it would be advisable to respond to each false accusation set forth in the
so-called MEGOBARI Act, relying on facts all the while.
1. The accusation of ‘significant democratic backsliding’ is clearly refuted by facts and
international rankings showing that, since 2012, Georgia has been on the tremendous
rise in every direction. In particular, since 2012, Georgia has:
- Adopted a new Constitution fully meeting the highest democratic standards,
subsequently replacing the pro-authoritarian constitution of Saakashvili’s regime run by
the deep state.
- Reduced the prison inmate population 2.5 times and the prison mortality rate 10 times,
also curbing the systemic practice of inmate torture and inhuman treatment, one of the
main hallmarks of Saakashvili’s regime run by the deep state - as recognized and
confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights.
- Eliminated the system practice of business racketeering, one of the key tools of
authoritarian governance used by Saakashvili’s regime run by the deep state. Notably,
Georgia is ranked 25th in the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World.
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- Shaped a diverse media environment boasting the highest quality of pluralism. In
contrast, until 2012, Saakashvili’s regime run by the deep state practically monopolized
the entire media space. In terms of media independence, Georgia can serve as a role
model for the US and most European countries. We are attentively listening to President
Trump’s statements about the dire situation in the American media, and we see that the
media in most European countries are in fact controlled and run by the deep state.
- Established an independent court system, previously under the full political control of
Saakashvili’s regime run in turn by the deep state. Our opponents fail to point out
concrete court cases adjudicated unfairly since 2012. Every decision previously
criticized by foreign officials, NGOs, and the opposition parties have been fully upheld
by the European Court of Human Rights. In the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law
Index, Georgia ranks 1st, ahead of several EU states. According to the the world's leading
center for the study of democracy, the organization ‘Variety of Democracy’ (V-DEM),
Georgia ranks 9th in Europe in terms of freedom from government attacks on judicial
justice. The number of complaints filed with the European Court of Human Rights has
dropped threefold. In contrast, under the previous Administration, a representative of
the US Embassy openly - in defiance of the Constitution of Georgia - demanded from a
particular judge to submit a report on one of the cases, subsequently canceling the
judge’s visit to the US because of an unfavorable outcome of the case. Notably, the
European Court of Human Rights later recognized the fairness of the Georgian judge’s
decision.
- Georgia has strong, transparent, and accountable state institutions. Georgia is one of the
torchbearers in terms of low corruption levels. For example, the Open Budget Survey
ranks Georgia 1st among the world’s 125 countries, while the World Bank’s Absence of
Corruption Index ranks Georgia 29th in the world and 18th in Europe.
- Georgia holds fair and democratic elections. Although, in 2020 and 2024, the deep state
prepared in advance to carry out a large-scale campaign for the de-legitimization of the
elections, both parliamentary elections were conducted in such a fair manner, that no
one has produced any fact or evidence of any essential violation. 2024 elections were
held with electronic counting machines installed by the world’s leading American
company, later audited also by the world’s leading American company that confirmed
the accuracy of the results. In contrast, in 2008, Saakashvili’s regime remained in power
based on total vote rigging greenlighted by the deep state.
- With 11 years of progress toward civil liberties to its credit, Georgia now ranks 9th in
the world. The right of peaceful assembly is ensured in Georgia in line with the highest
standards. In November-December 2024, the authorities warded off five days of
extremely violent attempts to disrupt the constitutional order, and they did it in such a
way as to make sure that not a single demonstrator’s health suffered any long-term
impact during the dispersal of rallies. However, as a result of action of the violent
demonstrator, one policemen got blind in one eye. For over 150 days now, a very small
group of people is gathering without any interference from law enforcement bodies, to
block Tbilisi’s central avenue every day. Most likely, no country throughout history
boasts a precedent of this magnitude of freedom.
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- Deep state and its institutions had tried to erode democracy in Georgia. It is noteworthy
that, in 2023-2024, the main line of attack on democracy in the country was related to
the laws adopted by the Parliament of Georgia, which provided for transparency of
funds of USAID, NED, and other similar funds, and also comprised restrictions on
LGBT propaganda. In addition, since 2020, the deep state has been trying to return to
power a political force that was known for its insulting words towards President Trump,
video evidence of which is abundantly available in public sources.
All these facts not only ascertain the fundamental democratic progress achieved by Georgia
since 2012, but also prove that today Georgia is in essence a democracy steadfastly
protecting the supremacy of justice and fundamental human rights and freedoms.
2. The accusation of ‘blocking Euro-Atlantic integration’ is proved false beyond any doubt
by concrete facts and evidence. In 2017, the acting authorities amended the Constitution
of Georgia to enshrine Euro-Atlantic integration as the Georgian Government’s
constitutional objective, an initiative no opposition party represented in the Parliament
supported at the time. Georgia has always expressed full commitment to Euro-Atlantic
integration, though receiving in response only a reserved stance from its partners,
meaning that, if anyone has created artificial barriers on Georgia’s path to European
integration, it must be our partners, not Georgia’s authorities. Despite this attitude, it
was under the acting authorities of Georgia that every tangible outcome on the European
integration path has been achieved. In 2014, Georgia signed the Association Agreement
with the EU, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement, later on receiving
visa-free travel for Georgian citizens. In March 2022, it was the acting Georgian
Government that applied for the EU membership. Yet, in June 2022, Georgia’s
authorities and the Georgian people were denied the status of the EU membership
candidate country without any substantiation, an event used by the deep state, namely
NGOs financed by USAID, NDI, and other similar foundations, to attempt a revolution.
Despite the unfair approach above, the Georgian Government, with support from the
Georgian people, received the candidate status in December 2023. The unfair approach,
however, resumed in 2024. In particular, despite the readiness of Georgia’s authorities,
European bureaucracy created an artificial obstacle on the path to European integration
by denying Georgia’s authorities and the Georgian people the opening of negotiations.
To this day, Georgia is forced to tackle with this unfair approach of European
bureaucracy that creates the only artificial barrier undermining Georgia’s path toward
European integration. As for Georgia’s integration into NATO, it is known for a fact
that the new US Administration and NATO consider Ukraine’s and Georgia’s
integration into NATO unrealistic even as a medium-term prospect, the reason why
Georgia’s excessive activity would not make much sense. In light of the foregoing, it is
clear that the accusation of ‘blocking Euro-Atlantic integration’ hurled against Georgia’s
authorities is groundless.
3. Equally groundless and false is the accusation of establishing inappropriate ties with
Russia, China, and Iran.
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- Given that 20% of Georgia’s territory is occupied, Georgia - unlike the US and most
European countries - does not even have diplomatic relations with Russia. Since 2012,
not a single Georgian politician has so much as visited the Russian Federation. The
share of trade with Russia in Georgia’s trade turnover is lower than 12%. The Joint
Assessment Mission of the US, the EU, and the UK has concluded that Georgia does
not allow its territory to be used by the Russian Federation to circumvent sanctions, the
fact that Assistant Secretary of State James C. O'Brien had shared with the Senate
already during the previous US administration. Since February 2022, Georgia has joined
over 600 international acts supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
and condemning Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. Compared to Georgia,
much closer relations with the Russian Federation are maintained by every neighboring
country, also Moldova, still a CIS member with its politicians not shying from visits to
Russia. Lithuania and Latvia sell several times more wine to Russia than Georgia, a
winemaking country, does. All these facts speak to the deception and double standards
against Georgia.
- The political and economic relations between Georgia and China essentially match the
level of relations found between the US and China. We are attentively observing
President Trump’s optimistic statements on deeper cooperation with China.
Consequently, it is totally unclear, why the US would call out Georgia and object to
Georgia-China relations.
- The same is true of the relations between Georgia and Iran that are, unfortunately, even
more underdeveloped than those between Iran and other countries in the region.
Notably, the excuse behind these speculations about Iran was the presence of the
Georgian Prime Minister at the inauguration of Iran’s President, an event attended by
top officials from all countries in the region. Representatives of the strategic partners of
the US, and EU delegates, were also present at the inauguration. Unfortunately, Georgia
happens to be the only target of speculations, this fact once again signifying unfairness
and double standards.
All these lies and unfairness show that the so-called MEGOBARI Act is underpinned by the
violent hatred of the deep state toward Georgia. Instead of acting independently from the deep
state and demanding that the new Administration annul the unfair sanctions imposed by the
previous Administration, the Congress demands new sanctions.
Fortunately, the Georgian people react adequately to such absurd decisions. Georgian society
has long given up on taking seriously the European Parliament, which has adopted six hostile
resolutions about Georgia since 2022. Unfortunately, the US Congress is exposing itself to
similar reputational damage. It is a pity that the Congress - once hailed as the citadel of
democracy inaugurated by the Founding Fathers: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and others - brought itself and its own image into such
disrepute in the eyes of Georgian society on May 5, 2025.
We believe that there is only one thing determining the rude and unfair attitude and double
standards used against Georgia. The problem is that Georgia’s authorities have not fulfilled the
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demand on the opening of a second front as set forth by the deep state’s representative in
concrete meetings with our Government’s leaders - and the deep state cannot find it in its heart
to forgive Georgia for it.
We hope that the new US Administration will successfully weaken the deep state, enabling the
US Congress to restore its old glory and name, building on 200 years of work.
The Parliament of Georgia stands ready to collaborate with the US Congress on every issue
capable of bettering Georgia-US relations.