EU prepares sanctions against Georgian authorities, Ambassador says
Photo: Head of the Georgian Dream party Irakli Garibashvili, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze (Getty Images)
The European Union is already preparing sanctions against the Georgian authorities, but their implementation will require consensus among the 27 member states, stated the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, SOVA reports.
According to Herczyński, the EU is currently discussing "all measures" against the Georgian government.
The Ambassador reminded that the EU had offered Georgia an Association Agreement, a free trade agreement, and visa-free travel arrangements. Additionally, the country was granted candidate status for EU membership.
"I am aware that work is underway to prepare sanctions. Achieving unanimity depends on all 27 capitals. I believe, and hope, that it will be difficult for any EU capital to ignore the level of violence and brutality. Let’s see if the sanctions will be introduced on Monday; preparatory work is indeed ongoing," the diplomat specified.
Protests in Georgia
It is worth noting that in the parliamentary election in Georgia at the end of October, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party won first place. According to official results, it received significantly more votes than opposition parties.
However, international observers reported several violations during the election.
As a result, mass protests erupted in Georgia. Protesters are demanding a new election and the release of all political prisoners.
The Georgian authorities have been using police to disperse protests almost daily.
Notably, Ukraine imposed sanctions against the Georgian authorities last week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western countries to adopt similar measures.
