US House of Representatives passes bill targeting Georgia’s ruling party leaders

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill (Megobari Act) imposing sanctions on the leaders of Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, following a vote of 349 to 433.

The bill received support from 168 Republicans and 181 Democrats, Caliber.Az reports via foreign website. 

The legislation, titled "Countering the Influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian Regime, and the Russian Federation in Georgia," aims to freeze the assets and bank accounts of Georgian leaders in the US, as well as impose travel bans on them. 

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, the bill's primary sponsor, criticised the Georgian government under Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, describing it as a repressive, anti-American mafia group. He claimed that the ruling party is working to sell Georgia to the enemies of the United States. 

Earlier, the US Department of the Treasury and the Department of State imposed visa and financial sanctions on several Georgian officials, law enforcement leaders, and their family members, as well as on the founder of the Georgian Dream party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. 

However, the sanctions against him have largely been symbolic, because Ivanishvili had long ago transferred all his assets to his sons, and there has been no mention of them in Washington’s decisions so far. It remains unclear whether Ivanishvili's family members will be included in future US executive actions. The Megobari Act must first be approved by the Senate before it is sent for President Trump’s signature.

By Naila Huseynova