On June 7, during the prime time program of the pro-Kremlin Sezoni TV, political scientist Edisher Gvenetadze voiced the following assertions about the MEGOBARI Act registered in the US Congress and the “Georgian Charter” introduced by President Salome Zourabichvili:
- The Americans wrote in the MEGOBARI act that on October 27, if Georgians are not too smart, Americans would start a coup.
- Salome Zourabichvili has adopted an act, which states that the elections will definitely be rigged, then a coup will take place, a technical government will be created and re-elections will be held.
The claim that the MEGOBARI Act or the “Georgian Charter” call for a coup d’état is false:
- The MEGOBARI Act focuses on supporting democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Georgia, addressing corruption, the influence of Russia and other authoritarian regimes, and the rollback of democracy. It includes provisions on sanctions and aid, but does not address any coup or forced change of government.
- Zourabichvili emphasized that in the process of creating a new political reality, peace and stability are important and people will make a decision through democratic elections, which protects us from any destabilization and dangerous confrontation.
On May 20, it was reported that the MEGOBARI Act would soon be introduced to the United States Congress. The abbreviation of the English name of the bill (Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act), matches the Georgian word “friend” and symbolizes the attitude of the US towards Georgia.
Republican Congressman Joe Wilson introduced the “Strengthening and Mobilizing Georgia’s Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Capabilities Act.” The initiative envisages the strengthening of cooperation with Georgia in several directions, for which the Georgian government should take concrete steps. According to the act, if the government stops its anti-Western rhetoric and human rights violations, the US will sign an important aid package with Georgia, which will affect the economy, security and travel directions.
The MEGOBARI Act focuses on supporting democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Georgia, addressing corruption, the influence of Russia and other authoritarian regimes, and the rollback of democracy. It includes provisions on sanctions and aid, but does not address any coup or forced change of government. The act discusses the importance of fair and free elections, which should determine the future relationship of the USA with Georgia, but it does not mention “coup”, “revolution”, “regime change”, “political change”, “change of government” or any other term or wording. , which may envisage a violent change of government.
The act does not list specific steps by the US after Georgia’s undemocratic elections, but it provides mechanisms to identify those responsible, impose sanctions and suspend aid, thus encouraging the Georgian government to uphold democratic standards. For example, on the basis of the act, a democracy monitoring working group will be created to monitor and promote the democratic environment in Georgia, especially during the election period, in order to ensure fair and free election processes.
The act also requires the Secretary of State to identify and potentially sanction those responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia.
The draft law emphasizes that additional aid packages, including preferential trade agreements and security assistance, will only be provided if Georgia demonstrates significant and sustainable progress in developing democracy, as evidenced by free and fair elections. In case of election fraud, Georgia will not be able to meet this criterion and most likely the aid packages will not be implemented.
What does Salome Zourabichvili’s Georgian Charter entail?
The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, addressed the opposition and participants of the rally on May 26, at the event dedicated to the Independence Day, and presented the “Georgian Charter”. The plan proposed by the president for the position includes an agreement on issues that, as the signatories believe, are important for Georgia’s pro-western orientation and European integration – among them, the so-called Abolition of agents and offshore laws, carrying out reforms in the judiciary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, SSSG and other directions.
According to the president, the October 26 elections should be a kind of referendum where people will decide whether to vote for the pro-European opposition parties or for the pro-Russian “Georgian Dream”. According to Zourabichvili’s plan, the opposition will form a temporary government that will work for several months and will have a specific task, which is spelled out in the charter: “It will be a parliament elected for a specific term and to fulfill a specific European plan.” It must fulfill its obligations under the Charter. After that, he will return the voter’s mandate and hold new, extraordinary elections in a new, free environment”. According to the president, this short-term mandate insures many risks: “including what scares the electorate, that any power be tempted to stay in power indefinitely, as we have seen.”
Speaking at the event dedicated to the Independence Day, Zourabichvili noted that peace and stability are important in the process and also said that the people will make a decision through democratic elections, “which protects us from any destabilization and dangerous confrontation”.
Salome Zourabichvili: “We should reach the elections on October 26 with peace, tranquility and stability. We must go with the same mobilization and attitude as before and, at the same time, be careful and preserve this peace and this stability”.
“Georgian people will make a decision through democratic elections, which protects us from any destabilization and dangerous confrontation. A different opinion should be expressed at the polling station and not elsewhere and in any other form. This plan is our peaceful solution and I take responsibility to protect this way of survival and return to Europe.”
It should be noted that the claim that Salome Zourabichvili called on young people to commit crimes, “in fact, a violent coup”, was disseminated in the past as well. For more details, see the “Myth Detector” article:
About the Source
Edisher Gvenetadze is a pro-government expert who is often featured as an analyst and historian in the broadcasts of the pro-government media outlets POS TV and “Imedi.”
In addition, Gvenetadze is involved in discrediting campaigns, as well as trying to justify the government and spread narratives against its opponents.
- HOW WAS THE OPERATION BY THE STATE SECURITY SERVICE OF GEORGIA COVERED BY PRAVDA.RU AND CHANNEL ONE OF RUSSIA?
- ACTORS INVOLVED IN THE DISCREDITATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRESIDENT ZOURABICHVILI AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS
- ACTORS WHO MOBILIZED ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO DEFEND IVANISHVILI’S FAMILY
- SPONSORED POSTS, 14 TROLLS AND GOVERNMENTAL AND PRO-KREMLIN ACTORS AGAINST KHAZARADZE-JAPARIDZE
Gvenetadze has disseminated disinformation as well:
- FABRICATED POSTER AMID THE PROTESTS AGAINST THE “RUSSIAN LAW”
- PHOTO MANIPULATION, AS IF KHABEISHVILI HAS SAAKASHVILI’S TATTOO ON HIS HEAD
- DID SAAKASHVILI UNDERGO GASTRECTOMY BEFORE COMING TO GEORGIA?
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