On May 6, Facebook user Giorgi Chimakadze disseminated information claiming that in the initial version of the MEGOBARI Act, the “list of regime enablers” included athletes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lasha Talakhadze, Lasha Bekauri, and Mamuka Gorgodze. The post was accompanied by a photo of a document, where these names appear at the end, in the section marked “supporters.” According to the post, the MEGOBARI Act called for sanctioning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Mamuka Gorgodze, among others.
Pro-government expert Ghia Abashidze shared the post across several Facebook groups (1;2;3;4;5).
Circulating on social media is a photoshopped image falsely suggesting that Georgian athletes were included in the “list of regime enablers” in the MEGOBARI Act, which was initiated by Joe Wilson. The original document, including names and surnames, was published by Wilson himself on May 6. The falsified photo, which appeared later, features additional names at the end of the list.
The document photo shared by Giorgi Chimakadze is dated May 2025. This is the document Joe Wilson published on his official X page on May 6.
It was previously known to the public that the MEGOBARI Act envisioned sanctions against the Georgian Dream government, but no specific list had been released until now. The public learned the names of those facing sanctions through the list published by Wilson. The list is categorized according to the institutions the individuals represent: executive and law enforcement, legislature, judiciary, key institutions, business, and propaganda.
There is no “supporters” group listed in the official document. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lasha Talakhadze, Lasha Bekauri, and Mamuka Gorgodze are not among the listed individuals.
The falsified photo is identical to the first page of Joe Wilson’s published document, and notably, the font used to add the athletes’ names differs in style and size from the original document’s font. It is clear in the fabricated image that the names were added afterward.
On May 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the MEGOBARI Act. MEGOBARI is an acronym for “Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act.” The bill received bipartisan support, with 349 members voting in favor. Its formal title is “[An Act] to Counter the Influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian Regime, and the Russian Federation in the Nation of Georgia.” The act aims to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for democratic backsliding and for advancing the interests of Russia, China, and Iran. Simultaneously, it pledges close cooperation with Georgia if the country changes its foreign policy orientation.
Before the act is finalized, it must also pass the Senate. Once approved by both the House and Senate, the MEGOBARI Act will be sent to the U.S. President for signature.
About the Source
Giorgi Chimakadze regularly publishes posts aimed at discrediting members of opposition parties. Some of his previous posts have been fact-checked and flagged as false by Myth Detector (1;2).
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