Lithuania imposes sanctions on Georgian security forces over dispersing protests

The sanctions were imposed against the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Gomelauri.

The sanctions list includes the leadership of the Georgian Interior Ministry:

• Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shalva Bedoidze;
• Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Ioseb Chelidze;
• Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze;
• Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Butkhuzi;
• Head of the Special Tasks Department Zviad Kharazishvili (under US sanctions);
• Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department, Mileri Lagazauri (under US sanctions);
• Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department Mirza Kezevadze;
• Director of the Patrol Police Department Vaja Siradze;
• Director of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Teimuraz Kupatadze.

These individuals were banned from entering Lithuania.

Earlier, the Estonian Foreign Minister said that the Baltic states were going to impose sanctions against those who dispersed the protests in Georgia.

Protests in Georgia

Protests against the ruling party have been going on in Georgia for several days now after the authorities announced the suspension of the country's integration into the EU. The protests continue in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities.

Georgian security forces, on the orders of the authorities, disperse the protests, which often end in clashes and detentions. Water cannons and tear gas are used against protesters.

The Georgian Prime Minister thanked the security forces for dispersing the protests. He also said that the country would not have a Ukrainian Maidan scenario. Ukraine responded to these statements.