On September 10, the US Congress Helsinki Commission held a hearing entitled “From Partner to Problem: Georgia’s Anti-American Turn.” Republican Congressman Joe Wilson accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of rigging elections, establishing a one-party regime, and suppressing the opposition and the media. According to him, the country’s current leadership is bringing Georgia closer to Russia, China, and Iran, while depriving the people of democracy and sovereignty.
Wilson emphasized that the party has opened “the door to Chinese influence in Georgia’s economy and infrastructure” and is helping Moscow circumvent sanctions despite its ongoing occupation of 20% of the country’s territory.
“Let’s be honest: Georgian Dream does not represent the Georgian people. Time after time, Georgians take to the streets in mass demonstrations demanding democracy, sovereignty, and a return to peace and prosperity with the West.
But today their aspirations are suppressed by a small group of oligarchs and autocrats who are accountable not to the Georgian people, but to the Communist Party of China in Beijing and the war criminal Putin in Moscow. And they also cooperate with the dictatorial regime in Tehran,” Wilson was indignant.
The congressman also recalled the bipartisan MEGOBARI Act initiative, which, according to him, should hold the leadership of the Georgian Dream accountable and at the same time support Georgian society.
Democrat Steve Cohen also criticized the ruling party, calling it a “Georgian nightmare” and accusing its leader Bidzina Ivanishvili of actually allying with Russia.
“Russia has occupied part of Georgia and will do so again if it gets the chance. Especially since it now has an ally there – Mr. Ivanishvili, so conquest from within is even easier,” Steve Cohen shared his conclusions.
He also lamented that despite the broad support of the MEGOBARI bill by both Democrats and Republicans, its adoption in the Senate was blocked.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reacted to the “failure” of the document in the opposite way. In a conversation with journalists, he called the MEGOBARI Act a hostile act directed against the people and national interests of Georgia.
“Fortunately, as it turned out, it ultimately failed, and this, of course, is very good. We have a specific goal - to restart relations and renew strategic partnership with the United States from scratch, with the help of a specific roadmap. We hope for this, and the rest depends on the new US administration,” Kobakhidze said.
The ruling party of Georgia associates the MEGOBARI Act with the “Deep State” conspiracy theory. In particular, Georgian Dream member Archil Gorduladze stated that the MEGOBARI Act "is not worth the paper it is written on" since it was proposed by senators who hate Georgia. Such blackmail, according to Gorduladze, makes no sense.
