Prepared by Messenger Staff
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen Accuses Georgian Government of Silencing Dissent and Undermining Democracy
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen sharply criticized the Georgian government during a speech in the Senate marking International Human Rights Day, accusing Tbilisi of taking actions that undermine democracy and serve the interests of Moscow.
Shaheen said that Russia's efforts to influence neighboring countries extend beyond Ukraine, arguing that the Kremlin uses pressure and coercion to shape political outcomes across the region.
"Ukraine is not the only place where the Kremlin uses coercive methods to control its neighbors and shape their political course," the Democratic senator said.
Turning specifically to Georgia, Shaheen said the government had crossed a dangerous line over the past year. "Last year, the Government of Georgia took unprecedented steps to silence its own citizens and weaken the democratic system," she said.
According to Shaheen, those actions included the adoption of what she described as repressive legislation, a retreat from Georgia's constitutional commitment to Euro Atlantic integration, and a crackdown on civil society and political opponents.
"It adopted repressive laws. It renounced the constitutional commitment of Georgia to join the Euro-Atlantic community. It took harsh measures against civil society and arrested representatives of the political opposition," she said, adding that "these steps fully align with Moscow's interests."
Shaheen also highlighted the risks faced by Georgian civil society leaders who continue to speak out despite pressure from authorities. She singled out Nino Dolidze, a recipient of the National Democratic Institute's Democracy Award, as an example of those working to defend fundamental freedoms.
"Leaders of Georgian civil society are working at personal risk to protect basic rights," Shaheen said. "Their struggle is part of a broader global resistance."
Georgian Ambassador Meets Senator Mullin as U.S. Sanctions Bill Remains Stalled
Georgia's ambassador to the United States, Tamar Taliashvili, has met with Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma amid growing uncertainty over the future of the MEGOBARI Act, a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting officials linked to Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party.
The meeting took place as supporters of the legislation acknowledged that efforts to move the bill forward in the Senate have faltered. The MEGOBARI Act, which passed the House of Representatives in May with strong bipartisan backing, has been stalled for months in the upper chamber. Recent attempts to attach the measure to the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense bill widely seen as must-pass legislation, were unsuccessful despite earlier expectations that such a move could revive momentum.
In a Facebook post published on December 12, Taliashvili said her discussion with Mullin focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Georgia and the United States. "During the meeting, the perspectives to foster Georgian U.S. relations were discussed," she wrote, thanking the senator for his "personal contribution" to relations between the two countries and describing him as "a true friend of Georgia."
According to the ambassador, the talks also touched on regional security issues, recent political developments, and international affairs more broadly. She said the conversation included discussion of President Donald Trump's peace initiatives and opportunities for cooperation on the global stage.
Mullin has been widely reported as one of the senators whose opposition has contributed to the delay of the MEGOBARI Act in the Senate. The bill would require the United States to impose sanctions on Georgian officials accused of corruption and abuses tied to efforts to block Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
