Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen Introduce Bill to Hold Georgian Officials Accountable After Assault on Georgian Democracy, Violence Against Protestors

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week introduced the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act. This bipartisan legislation supports the people of Georgia as their government continues its violent assaults on peaceful protestors and reaffirms U.S. support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.   

“Friends of Georgia from around the world have been shocked and dismayed by the government’s descent into authoritarianism and the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protestors,” said Chairman Risch. “This bill will send a strong message that the U.S. supports the Georgian people as they struggle for the right to self-determination and will give the U.S. tools to help Georgians restore fairness to their political system.” 

“I am pleased to re-introduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Chairman Risch to support the Georgian people in the face of the Georgian Dream government’s constitutional violations and violence against peaceful protestors,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “The Georgian people have made clear their Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and the U.S. must continue to support them against Georgian Dream efforts to erode their democratic institutions. At a time when Russia seeks to undermine democracies across the region, we cannot turn our backs on a key partner striving for a free and democratic future. I look forward to working with Chairman Risch to expeditiously move this bill through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”

The MEGOBARI Act will: 

• Initiate a complete review of the U.S.–Georgia relationship, including all assistance programs
• Recognize the Georgian people’s support for the country’s constitutionally enshrined commitment to Euro-Atlantic accession processes
• Require the President to impose sanctions on Georgian Dream officials and their enablers who have engaged in corruption to derail Georgia’s Euro Atlantic integration, undermined Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity or engaged in other corrupt acts detrimental to stability in Georgia
• Bolster people-to-people ties and defense cooperation when Georgia realigns itself with its own Constitutional requirements 
• Express support for Georgia’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity amid continued and illegal Russian occupation 
• Support civil society, which has worked to defend the Georgian people and the Georgian Constitution from Georgian Dream government abuses

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