Senators Wicker and Shaheen: “The Georgian Dream” government is aggressively moving toward power consolidation, which resembles Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus – we support advancing the bipartisan “MEGOBARI Act"

The Georgian Dream government is aggressively moving toward power consolidation — we support advancing the bipartisan “MEGOBARI Act” as soon as the Senate schedule allows. This is stated in a joint statement by U.S. Helsinki Commission Chair Senator Roger Wicker (Republican Party) and one of the leading members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic Party).

The statement emphasizes that democratic governments should not view organizations as threats.

Furthermore, the senators state that “Georgian Dream” accelerated its repression of the political opposition this week through politically motivated charges — arresting and sentencing several pro-democracy leaders.

“The Georgian Dream government is aggressively moving toward power consolidation, silencing independent voices through anti-democratic actions, resembling Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus. The scale of information demanded from civil society organizations is likely illegal, but also so extensive that it will inevitably lead to noncompliance. The actions of Georgian Dream, which we understand to be directed by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, aim to paralyze the important work of groups such as the Open Society Foundation, the Economic Policy Research Center, Transparency International Georgia, Sapari, the Academy of the Future, the Media Development Foundation, and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy.”

Additionally, Georgian Dream has accelerated repression of the political opposition this week by issuing politically motivated charges and sentencing several pro-democracy leaders.

“Simply put, democratic governments should not view organizations that support independent media, fight Kremlin propaganda, combat corruption, and empower women or youth as threats. Just as these groups protect the private information of Georgian citizens and sources from government overreach, we will use our voices and legislation to stand with them. In this regard, we support advancing the bipartisan ‘MEGOBARI Act’ as soon as the Senate schedule allows,” the statement reads.

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