On March 27, the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the MEGOBARI ACT. This bipartisan document is a clear example of the American political establishment's attitude toward the ongoing processes in Georgia.
In the Senate, one of the strongest supporters of the MEGOBARI ACT is Jim Risch, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He spoke to Globalnews.ge about the ongoing processes in Georgia and the importance of the MEGOBARI ACT:
- How do you assess the current difficult situation unfolding in Georgia?
- For years, Georgia was working to be more closely connected to the transatlantic community and join the European Union, but under the current government there have been a series of alarming steps backwards. This decline culminated in the government’s decision in November 2024 to suspend EU membership talks – even though European Union membership is enshrined in Georgia’s constitution and supported by the people. This triggered the mass protests and signaled to friends of Georgia, including me and my colleagues in Congress, that we need to support the Georgian people in their efforts to bring democracy to Georgia.
- In light of the events in Georgia, what does supporting the MEGOBARI Act at such a high level mean to you, and why is it important for you to support it?
- I have been troubled by the government’s embrace of authoritarianism and the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protestors. This bill sends a strong message that the U.S. supports the Georgian people as they struggle for the right to self-determination and tools to help Georgians restore fairness to their political system.
- The MEGOBARI Act is a bipartisan legislative document. How do you respond to the narrative from the Georgian Dream party that their issues are only with the previous administration? Do you believe there is a genuine desire from Bidzina Ivanishvili and his party to renew their relationship with the United States under the current administration?
- This is not a partisan issue – both Republicans and Democrats care about the future of Georgia. This bill received broad bipartisan support in its committee vote and I plan to engage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we try to move it forward. We have colleagues in the House of Representatives working to advance a version through their chamber on a bipartisan basis as well.
- Given the deteriorating situation in Georgia, where peaceful protesters are being arrested and an independent journalist has been detained, do you think it is necessary for the U.S. administration, particularly the State Department, to take swift action alongside the MEGOBARI Act?
- It is important that the U.S. government continues to review all the tools at its disposal to formulate the best policy toward Georgia. That is why this bill calls for a 5-year strategy for U.S. policy toward Georgia.
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