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US and UK Sanction Georgian Officials Amid 24-Day Pro-EU Protests, OSCE Report Cites Election Violations

Dec 21, 2024, 11:23 AM

The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on senior Georgian officials, including the Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and other high-ranking members of the Georgian government, in response to a violent crackdown on pro-European Union protesters. The sanctions, enacted under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program, target officials accused of orchestrating the suppression of demonstrations that have persisted for 24 days in Tbilisi and other cities across Georgia. These protests erupted following the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations on EU membership until 2028, a move that has sparked widespread discontent among Georgians advocating for closer ties with Europe. The European Commission has also proposed suspending the visa-free travel regime for Georgian diplomats and state officials as a reaction to the crackdown. Amidst the ongoing protests, Georgian authorities have pledged to award the sanctioned officials with the Order of Honor, a move seen as defiance against Western sanctions. The Georgian opposition has cited a critical OSCE report on the October 2024 parliamentary elections, which highlighted significant electoral violations, as evidence of the government's illegitimacy and a call for new elections.