Georgia's President responds to sanctions imposed by Ukraine
Photo: Georgian President Salome Zurabichvili reacted to sanctions from Ukraine (Getty Images)
Georgian President Salome Zurabichvili welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to impose sanctions against the founder of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and 19 of his associates.
In particular, in her post, Zurabichvili shared Zelenskyy's video address and commented, "I could not say it better," expressing full support for the Ukrainian leader's decision.
She also thanked Zelenskyy for this move and highlighted the threat posed by Russia to the Black Sea region.
"Russia is trying to get back the control over the Black Sea," Zurabichvili stated.
On December 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enforcing the National Security and Defense Council's decision to impose sanctions on Ivanishvili and his associates, calling on European and American governments to join these actions.
Ukraine made this decision in response to numerous civil rights violations by Ivanishvili's government during the dispersal of protests in Tbilisi caused by the setback in the country's Eurointegration process.
The sanctions list includes:
- Bidzina Ivanishvili – Former Prime Minister of Georgia.
- Grigol Liluashvili – Member of the Georgian Parliament.
- Kakha Kaladze – Georgian politician, former footballer, and defender for FС Dynamo Kyiv, Italy's AC Milan, and the Georgian national football team. Mayor of Tbilisi since November 13, 2017.
- Mikheil Chinchaladze – Chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals.
- Mamuka Mdinaradze – Executive Secretary of the Georgian Dream party.
- Vakhtang Gomelauri – Georgian politician who has served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Head of the Georgian State Security Service since September 2019.
- Otar Partskhaladze – Former Prosecutor General of Georgia, under US sanctions.
- Irakli Rukhadze – Owner of the TV company Imedi.
- Levan Murusidze – Judge and member of the Georgian High Council of Justice.
- Victor Japaridze – Member of Parliament from the Georgian Dream party.
- Dimitri Samkharadze – Member of Parliament from the Georgian Dream party.
- Giorgi Khaindrava – Former Minister.
- Irakli Kobakhidze – Pro-Russian Georgian politician, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament from November 18, 2016, to June 21, 2019, Prime Minister of Georgia since February 8, 2024, Member of Parliament since 2016, and Leader of the Georgian Dream party since January 11, 2021.
Additional individuals include:
- Giorgi Kobakhidze;
- Zviad Shalamberidze;
- Shalva Tadumadze;
- Tea Tsulukiani;
- Irakli Karseladze;
- Kakha Bekauri.
The sanctions are set to remain in effect for 10 years.
Protests in Georgia
After the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, won in October, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski commented on the situation, criticizing the decision to delay Eurointegration until 2028.
Herczynski stated that this decision contradicts the aspirations of the majority of Georgians and the policies previously declared by the Georgian government.
At the end of November, protests began in Georgia, with the primary reason being the de facto refusal of Eurointegration.
The dispersal of protests in Tbilisi happened swiftly. Hundreds of people were detained, and there were documented attacks on protestors and journalists.
Human rights organizations and the ombudsman reported that violence was even used against peaceful protestors.
Furthermore, the EU summit effectively announced the halt of Georgia's accession to the union.
As previously reported, the last night was the first for protesters without dispersals, although detentions of activists still occurred.
