The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Georgian officials, including Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, for “suppressing peaceful protests,” the US Treasury said.
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“The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is imposing sanctions on two Georgian officials from the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs who engaged in violent repression of members of the media, opposition figures, and protesters, including during demonstrations during 2024,” the statement said.
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In addition to Gomelauri, sanctions were imposed against the deputy head of the Special Purpose Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mirza Kerevadze, the Ministry of Finance noted.
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Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on October 26. According to the Central Election Commission, the ruling Georgian Dream party, which advocates maintaining relations with Russia and against anti-Russian sanctions, received 53.93% of the votes. Four opposition parties also entered parliament, receiving a total of 37.78%. Opposition representatives have already stated that they do not recognize the CEC data. Special Coordinator of the short-term OSCE mission Pascal Alizar noted the good organization of the elections in Georgia, while stating a number of violations recorded by observers.
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Salome Zurabishvili, who helps the pro-European opposition, despite the fact that according to the constitution the president must be non-partisan, called for protests over the election results.
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Another series of opposition protests began in Georgia on November 28, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the decision to suspend consideration of the start of negotiations on the country’s membership in the European Union until 2028. Protesters used firecrackers, stones, bottles, and it was reported that Molotov cocktail bottles were found at the site of the pogroms. The security forces responded by using special equipment, including water cannons.
