"Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act" prohibits US from recognizing Bidzina Ivanishvili or any government he leads and calls for the recognition of Salome Zurabishvili as President of Georgia

The "Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act" prohibits the US from recognizing Bidzina Ivanishvili or any government led by him and calls for the recognition of Salome Zurabishvili as the President of Georgia. The text of the relevant bill was published on February 5.

“This Act may be cited as the “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act”.

(a) Statement of policy.—It is the policy of the United States—

(1) not to recognize or normalize relations with any Government of Georgia that is led by Bidzina Ivanishvili or any proxies due to the Ivanishvili regime’s ongoing crimes against the Georgian people;

(2) to actively oppose recognition or normalization of relations by other governments with any Government of Georgia that is led by Bidzina Ivanishvili or any proxies, including by fully implementing the mandatory primary and secondary sanctions in Executive Order No. 14024; and

(3) to use the full range of authorities, including those provided under the Global Magnitsky Act and Executive Order No. 14024, to deter corrupt activity or foreign influence operations by Georgia on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian regime, and the Russian Federation.

(b) Prohibition.—In accordance with subsection (a), no Federal official or employee may take any action, and no Federal funds may be made available, to recognize or otherwise imply, in any manner, United States recognition of Bidzina Ivanishvili or any Government in Georgia that is led by Bidzina Ivanishvili or any proxies.

(c) Recognition of president of georgia.—The United States shall recognize the incumbent President of Georgia prior to the fraudulent elections on October 26, 2024 as the only legitimate leader in Georgia.

(d) Restoration of georgian constitution.—In the case of the restoration of the Georgian constitution as demonstrated by the holding of free and fair elections as certified by the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, this policy may be declared void by the President”, reads the document.

The bill must be considered by the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees before being brought to a vote in the lower house of the US Congress - the House of Representatives.