The political landscape in Georgia, a nation bordering the Black Sea, has been dramatically reshaped by over 40 days of sustained anti-government protests. These demonstrations have spurred a strong reaction from US lawmakers, culminating in a bipartisan bill aimed at isolating the ruling Georgian Dream party. Representatives Joe Wilson, a Republican, and Steve Cohen, a Democrat, have introduced the “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act,” signaling a significant shift in US policy towards the country. This legislation seeks to bar any form of US recognition of a Georgian government led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s founder, or any associated proxies, citing alleged “crimes against the Georgian people.” The bill’s core principle is to deny legitimacy to any government influenced by Ivanishvili, effectively freezing official interactions and withholding federal funds until free and fair elections are held. This move echoes similar actions taken by the US Congress against illegitimate regimes in other parts of the world, reinforcing a long-standing tradition of using non-recognition as a tool of foreign policy.
The introduction of this bill reflects a growing concern among US lawmakers about the direction Georgia is taking under the Georgian Dream leadership. Representative Cohen’s strong condemnation, labeling the party a “tool of Putin,” underscores the perception that Georgia is drifting away from democratic values and aligning itself with Russian interests. The bill also specifically names Ivanishvili, a sanctioned oligarch, as the driving force behind this shift, alleging that the October 2024 elections were falsified to install a compliant president. While the Georgian Dream party has not directly responded to the bill, it has issued statements denouncing recent US sanctions as “anti-Georgian steps” orchestrated by a “Global War Party” and the “deep state.” They specifically target Representative Wilson, labeling him a “degraded politician” and a prominent figure within this supposed “deep state.”
The “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act” draws parallels to the “Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act,” which was spearheaded by Representative Wilson and passed into law in 2025. This previous legislation similarly prohibited US recognition of the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad due to his regime’s human rights abuses. This precedent underscores the US Congress’s consistent approach towards regimes deemed illegitimate, and suggests a belief that the situation in Georgia warrants similar action. While the president ultimately holds the power to formally recognize foreign governments, Congress plays a significant role in shaping US foreign policy, often using non-recognition as a powerful symbolic gesture and a practical tool to pressure authoritarian regimes.
Historically, the United States Congress has consistently refused to recognize regimes it considers illegitimate, setting precedents that inform the current action against the Georgian Dream government. The US has never recognized Russia’s occupation of Crimea in Ukraine or the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Similarly, the US maintained a policy of non-recognition of the Soviet annexation of the Baltic states for over fifty years, finally recognizing their restored independence in 1991. Representative Wilson draws a direct connection between these historical examples and the current situation in Georgia, expressing confidence that the Ivanishvili regime will eventually fall, paving the way for free and fair elections. This historical context highlights the significance of the “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act” and places it within a broader framework of US foreign policy principles.
Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a long-time advocate for Georgia’s Western integration, interprets the bill as a sign of growing frustration among US lawmakers with the Georgian Dream’s trajectory. He emphasizes the importance of Congress in shaping foreign policy, especially given the expected increased influence of certain members with close ties to Donald Trump. This suggests that the bill’s introduction has bipartisan support and is likely to gain momentum in the coming months. Coffey also notes the symbolic importance of the bill’s recognition of Salome Zourabichvili as the legitimate president of Georgia prior to the disputed October 2024 elections. This specific recognition serves to further delegitimize the current government and underscore the US’s commitment to supporting a democratic path for Georgia.
Despite the current strained relations between the US and Georgia, Coffey remains optimistic about the potential for future reconciliation. He stresses the importance of supporting Georgia’s legitimate political opposition in their struggle against what he describes as an increasingly authoritarian government resembling the regime in Belarus. The bill’s stipulation that the non-recognition policy can be lifted upon the restoration of the Georgian constitution and the holding of free and fair elections provides a clear pathway for normalization of relations. However, the success of this approach hinges on the Georgian Dream party’s willingness to respond to international pressure and engage in meaningful democratic reforms. Ultimately, the future of US-Georgian relations remains uncertain, but the “Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act” serves as a powerful statement of US policy and a potential catalyst for change within Georgia.
