Day: September 8, 2025
Mullin is blocking the MEGOBARI Act
Republican senator Markwayne Mullin is blocking the passage of the MEGOBARI Act, which would impose sanctions on leading figures from the ruling Georgian Dream party, The Hill reports, according to sources.
The MEGOBARI Act, introduced in the House of Representatives in May 2024 by Republican congressman Joe Wilson, requires the US president to impose sanctions on members of the Georgian Dream government and others deemed a threat to Georgia’s stability, security and democracy. The bill obliges the president to sanction regime officials, their supporters and family members. The sanctions include visa restrictions and asset freezes.
The legislation also calls for a full review of US–Georgia relations, including all aid programmes.
In May 2025, the House of Representatives approved the MEGOBARI Act. It now needs to be passed by the Senate, before the final step of being signed by president Donald Trump.
- U.S. House passes MEGOBARI Act against Georgian Dream: what it says and what’s next
- Politicians, judges, propagandists and businessmen — who in Georgia will be targeted by MEGOBARI sanctions?
- British MP: ‘There’s a 6 or 7 out of 10 chance that sanctions will be imposed on Ivanishvili — and he’s already very afraid of it’
The Hill writes that in late August senator Markwayne Mullin persuaded Senate majority leader John Thune to exclude the MEGOBARI Act from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Including the MEGOBARI Act in the NDAA would have been the quickest way to create serious obstacles for the Georgian Dream government.
News that Mullin was opposing the MEGOBARI Act was first reported in late August by journalist Alex Raufoglu, who covers the Caucasus in Washington, quoting sources.
Earlier this year, Mullin also blocked a request for the MEGOBARI Act to be fast-tracked.
In May, Republican congressman Joe Wilson published on X a list of individuals the US would sanction first once the law is passed. It included senior government officials, judges, businessmen and Georgian Dream propagandists.
The document states that “these individuals are helping Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s shadow ruler, to seize power in the state and place the country under the influence of China, Iran and Russia.”
Markwayne Mullin’s shift in position
The Hill says that Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin’s position “has raised eyebrows,” noting that it is now radically different from his stance on Georgian Dream five years ago.
In 2020, Mullin criticised the Georgian Dream government for moving closer to “America’s adversaries and enemies,” arguing that this made it harder and more dangerous for US companies to operate in the country.
The Hill notes that Republican senator Rand Paul is also against the MEGOBARI Act, but Mullin’s opposition stands out in particular.
“Many people support this bill. Last year it was close to being included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The fact that one senator was able to block it is very disappointing,” an anonymous source told the outlet.
In a brief interview with The Hill, Mullin cited a “better relationship” with Georgian Dream prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze as one of the reasons for his change of heart.
“I understand kind of where they’re [Georgian Dream] trying to get to. I also understand the direct influence that Russia is having … and so I want to be able to work with them before we throw sanctions on them. I want to work with them to see how they can … have true sovereignty, to get away from the overbearing influence of Russia,” Mullin said.
In an article published on 1 July 2020, Mullin described Georgian Dream founder and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in stark terms:
“Georgia is controlled by Bidzina Ivanishvili, an oligarch educated in Russia who made billions off the corrupt fire sale of Russian assets after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Ivanishvili is a Putin ally who has deliberately forced out US companies legally operating in Georgia, such as Frontera.”
- Kobakhidze writes to Trump, wonders why US hasn’t responded to his offer to “restore strategic partnership”
- “US is not paying enough attention to Georgia”: Georgian president’s letter to Donald Trump
What is Frontera?
The Hill also examines the shifting stance of US oil company Frontera, which once loudly and actively criticised the Georgian Dream government but in recent years has noticeably softened its tone.
Frontera Resources was granted a licence to explore and extract oil in the Kakheti region in 1997, during the presidency of Eduard Shevardnadze.
Between 2012 and 2016, the company made several high-profile claims about large oil reserves in Kakheti. The newly elected Georgian Dream government treated these claims with suspicion.
The conflict escalated in 2017, when the state oil and gas agency filed an arbitration case against Frontera, accusing it of failing to meet its obligations.
The details and outcome of the proceedings remain classified. However, in 2020 the government said the arbitration had found a significant breach of contract, giving Tbilisi grounds to terminate the deal.
Despite publicly signalling its readiness to do so, the government never cancelled the contract. The economy minister at the time explained the decision as necessary to “maintain the country’s reputation as a model investment environment.”
The Hill cites Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as reporting that the US company owes the Georgian government 15.4m lari (around $5.7m), which a state corporation has deemed “irrecoverable.”
Frontera’s founder donated to Mullin’s campaign
The Hill notes that Frontera founder Steve Nicandros has donated up to $6,000 to Mullin’s election campaigns since 2020.
The outlet also quotes Mullin as insisting there is no link between Frontera’s improved relations with the Georgian government and his own decision to oppose the MEGOBARI Act.
“It doesn’t make any difference what company it is. If we’re going to have investments there, they need to make sure their investments, meaning U.S. investments, that investments need to be protected and have confidence that they’re going to be able to see the project through without being threatened to be taken over. I think we’re there. But some of the intergovernment politics is dicey. I mean, it’s a tough area.” Mullin said.
The Oklahoma senator added that he last visited Georgia in 2021 and plans to return. Asked if he could give a date, he replied: “No, that’s not for you to know.”
The Hill also writes that it sought comment from Frontera, but the company did not respond.
Senators call Mullin’s stance “puzzling”
According to The Hill, Mullin’s optimism about the Georgian government has baffled members of Congress.
“That a senator is going this far to defend the pro-China government in Georgia is puzzling and very swamp-like behavior. This is a regime that is constantly defending China and Iran and just today was insulting President Trump,” a Republican congressional aide told The Hill.
Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, told The Hill that the MEGOBARI Act could still be added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, said the bill enjoys bipartisan support and that she intends to keep working with Republicans to secure its passage in the Senate.
“There continues to be strong, bipartisan and bicameral support for the Megobari Act in response to the deteriorating political situation in Georgia and widespread agreement that actors responsible for undermining Georgia’s democracy, Euro-Atlantic aspirations and our longstanding bilateral relationship should be held accountable,” Shaheen said.
News in Georgia
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Moscow Calling – September 8
Lavrov announces Western plans to dismember Russia
Speaking to students and teachers at MGIMO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that there are still forces in the West intent on breaking up the Russian Federation, TASS reports. According to him, such ideas come from marginal political figures who have not given up on their attempts to implement plans to dismember the country into separate regions. Lavrov stressed that such sentiments are not new, but continue to be present in Western discourse, reflecting a hostile attitude toward the Russian state (TASS).
Intended effect: The statement aims to create the perception of a constant external threat and hostility from the West among the Russian audience. Propaganda uses the motif of “attempts to break up Russia” to reinforce the feeling of being besieged, increase trust in the authorities, and justify internal restrictions under the pretext of protecting the country’s unity.
Abramovich’s representative denies reports of investigation in Jersey
A representative of Russian businessman Roman Abramovich told TASS that no charges have been brought against him and that there are no criminal proceedings related to his name on the island of Jersey. According to him, any statements about Abramovich’s involvement in criminal activity are untrue. He stressed that the Jersey court had in fact confirmed that there were no criminal cases against the businessman. Earlier, the British newspaper The Guardian reported on an alleged investigation against Abramovich and the Jersey authorities’ interest in the origin of his initial capital. Abramovich’s representative called these reports misleading and discrediting the businessman’s reputation (TASS).
Intended effect: The material aims to protect Abramovich’s image in the Russian media by contrasting his positions with “unreliable” Western press publications. It shapes the perception that foreign media outlets deliberately spread false information about Russian businessmen, aligning with the broader criticism of the West.
RIA columnist on France’s “catastrophe” and EU collapse due to globalists
Elena Karaeva, columnist at RIA Novosti, claims in her article that France is experiencing an acute political crisis as a result of Emmanuel Macron’s rule and the influence of globalist elites. She emphasizes that six governments have changed in recent years, three of them in the last year. The author describes France as a country plunging into chaos and losing its sovereignty, and Macron as a puppet of external forces who will soon be “written off” as a failure. The crisis in France is presented as an indicator of the destructive impact of globalism on European institutions, the economy, and the democratic system. Separate mention is made of the decline of European agriculture, the crisis facing winemakers and farmers, and the EU-Mercosur agreement, which will allegedly destroy the agricultural sector. The article draws a parallel with Ukraine, claiming that globalists are destroying its economy as well (ria.ru).
Intended effect: The material aims to discredit the European Union and its leaders by portraying them as dependent on “globalists” who have destroyed France and other countries. In contrast, Russia is presented as a bastion of sovereignty that ensures stability and protection for its people. This contrast is intended to reinforce the belief among the audience that the West is in the decline and that they should unite around the Russian government.
Armenian Foreign Ministry announces readiness to host “3+3” meeting
Armenia has expressed its readiness to host the third “3+3” meeting on its territory, the country’s Foreign Ministry stated. The alliance includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as Russia, Iran, and Turkey, while Georgia has not confirmed its participation. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan noted that Yerevan had already announced its readiness to host the summit in Istanbul in 2024. Azerbaijan has put forward a similar initiative. The date and venue of the ministerial meeting will be determined at a later date. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow supports holding the “3+3” summit in Yerevan or Baku (Vestnik Kavkaza).
Intended effect: Such a presentation emphasizes Armenia’s constructive role in regional diplomacy and demonstrates the country’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Russia’s support. The material portrays Moscow as a pivotal mediator in the South Caucasus and illustrates the potential of the “3+3” format for addressing regional issues independently of the West.
As Azerbaijan’s Central Bank prepares for its next rate-setting meeting on September 10, ING Group’s forecast that the refinancing rate will remain at 7% seems not only plausible but prudent. While inflation is cooling and economic growth remains tepid, the broader financial landscape suggests that now is not the time for aggressive monetary easing.
Since the last rate cut in July, which lowered the refinancing rate from 7.25% to 7%, Azerbaijan’s inflation rate has dropped to 4.9% — well within the Central Bank’s target range of 4±2%. This is a welcome development, especially in a region where inflationary pressures have been notoriously difficult to tame. But inflation alone should not dictate monetary policy. The Central Bank must also weigh the risks posed by a narrowing trade surplus and an increasingly aggressive credit expansion.
ING’s analysis rightly points out that GDP growth…