Sanctions for violent suppression of protests in Georgia have been introduced by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. These countries banned the entry into the country of the honorary chairman of "Georgian Dream" Bidzina Ivanishvili and the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Points of attention
- Sanctions have been imposed by Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia against the oligarch Ivanishvili and the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for the violent suppression of protests.
- The Baltic countries banned the entry of the honorary chairman of 'Georgian Dream' and several high-ranking Georgian officials due to their involvement in the crackdown on protests.
- The sanctions reflect the Baltic countries' stance against 'opponents of democracy' and human rights violators in Georgia, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic values.
- Key figures included in the sanctions list are Bidzina Ivanishvili, Vakhtang Homelauri, and several officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
- The restrictive measures enacted by the Baltic states highlight international condemnation of actions leading to the dispersal of protest actions in Georgia.
The Baltic countries imposed sanctions against the Georgian authorities due to the crackdown on protests
Lithuania imposed sanctions against representatives of the Georgian authorities for dispersing protests. 11 people were included in the sanctions list.
This was reported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielus Landsbergis in X (Twitter).
Denied entry into Lithuania due to their responsibility for human rights abuses:
— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) December 2, 2024
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Vakhtang Gomelauri
Shalva Bedoidze
Ioseb Chelidze
Aleksandre Darakhvelidze
Giorgi Butkhuzi
Zviad Kharazishvili
Mileri Lagazauri
Mirza Kezevadze
Vaja Siradze
Teimuraz Kupatadze
Sanctions were introduced against Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling party "Georgian Dream", as well as the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Homelauri.
The leadership of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs was included in the sanctions list:
Shalva Bedoidze, first deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Yoseb Chelidze;
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Oleksandr Darakhvelidze;
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Heorhiy Buthuzi;
head of the department for special assignments Zviad Kharazishvili (is under US sanctions);
Deputy Head of the Department for Special Assignments, Mileri Lagazouri (is under US sanctions);
Mirza Kezevadze, deputy head of the department for special assignments;
director of the patrol police department Vazha Siradze;
Director of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Teimuraz Kupatadze.
These persons were banned from entering Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
What is known about the sanctions of the Baltic countries
On December 1, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced that the Baltic countries do not welcome "opponents of democracy" and "violators of human rights."
According to the Georgian publication, in particular, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Homelauri, was sanctioned by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
"All officials responsible for the dispersal of protest actions" were under the sanctions of the Baltic states. Restrictive measures include, among other things, a ban on entry into the territory of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
