Tina Bokuchava: The adoption of the ‘MEGOBARI Act’ is a very strong warning to Ivanishvili – he will either relinquish power or face severe sanctions from Donald Trump’s administration

"The adoption of the 'MEGOBARI Act' is a very strong warning to Ivanishvili – he will either relinquish power or face the most severe sanctions from Donald Trump’s administration.

Members of his inner circle, propagandists, and the corrupt business elite – the so-called financial elite on which his Russian criminal regime stands – will also come under financial sanctions,” said United National Movement chairwoman [Tina Bokuchava], in response to the passage of the ‘MEGOBARI Act.’

According to her, the adoption of the act in the House of Representatives once again demonstrated that the U.S. offers bipartisan support to Georgia.

“Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the ‘MEGOBARI Act’ by an overwhelming majority, which is a major achievement for the Georgian people. I would like to congratulate every citizen of Georgia who is fighting for our country’s European and Euro-Atlantic future.

It’s important for Georgian citizens to know that out of the 349 congressmembers who supported the act, 168 were Republicans and 181 were Democrats. This clearly shows that the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic choice has bipartisan support in the United States, and this will define future U.S. policy towards Georgia.

You know that the initiator of the act is Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, a great friend of Georgia, whom I last met at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. There, he was distributing Georgian-American flag pins to world leaders – I was gifted one myself, as a token of support for Georgian-American relations.

The adoption of the 'MEGOBARI Act' is also a very clear and stern warning to Ivanishvili – he will either relinquish power, which he has usurped from the Georgian people through a special operation during the October 26 election, or he will face further, harsher sanctions from the Trump administration. Financial sanctions will also apply to his inner circle, propagandists, and the corrupt business elite – the so-called financial elite that sustains his Russian criminal regime,” Bokuchava stated.

She also announced that next week, leaders of United National Movement will travel to the U.S. to work intensively in the Senate to ensure bipartisan support for the 'MEGOBARI Act' there as well.

“Our expectations in the House were fulfilled, and we believed the act would receive overwhelming support.

Ivanishvili promised the Georgian people European peace, but instead he got a Cold War with both the U.S. and the EU. He promised peace, but declared a war of violence against the Georgian people, especially the youth, through severe repression. It’s time for him to understand that the 'MEGOBARI Act' is a warning – his time is up. The only way out for the country, and even for him, is to give up power and announce new elections.

Yesterday proved that Ivanishvili’s propaganda is lying to the people and that no ‘restart’ or reboot in relations with the U.S. is possible under his regime. The only solution is new, free, and fair elections, along with the release of political prisoners – and we will achieve all this with united efforts,” Bokuchava declared.