House deliberates on MEGOBARI Act today, set to discuss and potentially vote on further regulation of online platforms and social media content.

Supporting Democracy in Georgia: A Look at the MEGOBARI Act

Get ready folks, today's the day the US House of Representatives takes a swing at democracy and human rights in Georgia! On the agenda is the MEGOBARI Act (H.R.36), a bipartisan piece of legislation that's all about standing up for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Georgia while clamping down on authoritarian influences, especially from Russia.

Background and Purpose

Introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson and supported by a gang of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, the MEGOBARI Act—short for "Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence"—is a response to concerns about democratic erosion in Georgia. This bill aims to give a shout-out to the US support for the Georgian people's dreams of joining the European Union and NATO while holding those who undermine democratic institutions accountable.

Key Provisions

If the MEGOBARI Act gets the green light, here's what'll happen:

There'll be an in-depth review of US-Georgia relations, including all the assistance programs.
Sanctions will be up for grabs for Georgian officials who mess with democracy or violate human rights.
Reports will be required on corruption, sanctions evasion, and foreign intelligence activities in Georgia.
A Democracy Monitoring Task Force will be formed to ensure fair elections.
Future US support will be conditional on democratic progress in Georgia.

Legislative Progress

So far, the MEGOBARI Act has earned itself some bipartisan love and was previously given the thumbs up by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Today's vote in the full House means we're one step closer to reinforcing US commitment to democratic principles in Georgia.

Reactions

The bill's been welcomed by Georgian opposition figures, civil society advocates, and more. But the ruling Georgian Dream party ain't happy, calling the legislation a read-between-the-lines attempt at interfering in Georgia's national sovereignty. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's even used the word "blackmail," expressing worries about rocky relations between the US and Georgia.

Stay tuned to find out if the MEGOBARI Act gets the majority vote it needs to become law. The outcome of today's vote's gonna have an impact on US foreign policy in the Caucasus region and the future of democratic governance in Georgia.

The MEGOBARI Act, a bipartisan legislation aiming to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Georgia, is being presented for a vote today in the US House of Representatives.
The MEGOBARI Act, if passed, will require reports on corruption, sanctions evasion, and foreign intelligence activities in Georgia, form a Democracy Monitoring Task Force for fair elections, and make US support for Georgia conditional on democratic progress.
The MEGOBARI Act, already approved by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has received support from Georgian opposition figures, civil society advocates, and various lawmakers from both political parties.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, however, has criticized the MEGOBARI Act, viewing it as an attempt to interfere with Georgia's national sovereignty, and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has even used the term "blackmail" to express concerns about potential tense relations between the US and Georgia.