MEGOBARI Act
Summary
The MEGOBARI Act (Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act) is a bipartisan bill that would support democracy and the rule of law in Georgia. If enacted, the bill would require the President to identify and potentially sanction Georgian government officials, their associates, and foreign persons who have engaged in significant corruption or actions undermining Georgia's security, stability, or democratic institutions. The bill would also direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to support Georgia's democratic institutions and Euro-Atlantic integration, and would require intelligence assessments examining Russian and Chinese influence in Georgia.
The bill's practical impact would be to impose potential consequences on individuals deemed responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia, including visa bans and economic sanctions under existing authorities like the Global Magnitsky Act. The legislation reflects U.S. support for Georgia's integration into European and NATO structures and aims to counter what supporters view as authoritarian influences from Russia, China, and Iran. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a Senate floor vote, though its ultimate enactment would require passage by both chambers and presidential signature.