Lawmaker Says Human Rights Report Shows Need for Georgia Sanctions Bill
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Aug. 13 that the State Department’s newly released annual report on human rights highlights the Republic of Georgia’s crackdown on freedom of speech and association and underscores the need for Congress to approve a bill to sanction officials who undermine democracy in the country.
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“Notable negative human rights developments in Georgia during the year," the report says, "included the entry into force of the so-called law On Transparency of Foreign Influence that credible nongovernmental organizations stated restricted freedom of expression and of association, and the so-called law On Family Values and Protection of Minors that criminalized certain types of expression, and a campaign of intimidation and coercion and abuse of administrative resources that restricted freedom of expression, particularly in connection with the October parliamentary election."
The sanctions bill, the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act, or the Megobari Act, passed the House in May and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March (see 2505060054). It awaits consideration by the full Senate. Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said Aug. 7 that she plans to “redouble” her efforts to enact the bill into law (see 2508070041).