Georgia’s Ambassador Meets U.S. Senator Who Is Blocking the “Friends of Georgia Act”

Georgia’s Ambassador to the United States, Tamar Taliashvili, met with Republican Senator Marshawein Malin.

According to the Georgian Embassy, the meeting focused on prospects for strengthening Georgian-American relations.

“The Ambassador highlighted Senator Malin’s personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations and expressed gratitude for his support as a true friend of Georgia. The discussion covered regional developments, current events, and the significance of former President Trump’s peace initiatives. The parties also exchanged views on opportunities on the international stage,” the Embassy said.

U.S. media report that Senator John Thune, the Republican leader in the Senate, blocked the inclusion of the “Friends of Georgia Act” in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) at Malin’s request.

Malin has previously been critical of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, calling its leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili, a “Russia-trained oligarch.” In 2020, he sent an open letter to Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia criticizing the government for creating a poor climate for foreign investment and undermining democracy, citing the example of the U.S.-based company Frontera, which operated in Georgia’s Kakheti region.

However, in a September interview with The Hill, Malin stated he had a good relationship with Georgian Dream’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, and argued that incentives, rather than sanctions, should be used with Tbilisi.

“I want the opportunity to work with them before imposing sanctions. I want to work with them to see how they can achieve true sovereignty and reduce Russia’s influence,” he said.

The “Friends of Georgia Act” (also called the MEGOBARI Act)  proposes visa and financial sanctions against individuals involved in corruption, threatening Georgia’s security, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or obstructing democratic processes and Euro-Atlantic integration. The bill has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with a full Senate vote pending.