Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is facing mounting international scrutiny as the United States imposes sanctions on key officials for alleged serious human rights violations. Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and Deputy Head of the Ministry’s Special Tasks Department Mirza Kezevadze were sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of State on Thursday (Washington local time).
The sanctions respond to the Ministry’s role in violent crackdowns on protesters, journalists, and opposition figures during demonstrations throughout 2024. The U.S. also announced visa restrictions on additional Georgian individuals and their families, targeting law enforcement and municipal officials accused of suppressing fundamental freedoms, including voting rights.
“The United States strongly condemns the Georgian authorities’ ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including peaceful protesters, media members, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the statement read. “We stand with the people of Georgia and remain committed to promoting accountability for those complicit in human rights abuses and undermining their democratic future.”
These measures build on sanctions announced in September and follow visa restrictions unveiled last week. They align with actions taken recently by the United Kingdom and several European nations to address the escalating situation in Georgia.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s actions are authorized under Executive Order 13818, implementing the Global Magnitsky Act to target human rights violators worldwide. Visa restrictions, imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, further underscore the U.S. commitment to holding those responsible accountable. Additional details can be found in the Treasury’s press release.
On the same day, the United Kingdom sanctioned five senior Georgian officials, including the interior minister, for their roles in suppressing pro-European protests in the Black Sea nation. These individuals face travel bans and asset freezes for "violating human rights," the Foreign Office said, emphasizing that the sanctions were coordinated with the U.S. Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the “shocking violence inflicted upon protesters, opposition leaders, and journalists,” describing it as an “egregious attack on democracy.”
Georgia has witnessed months of violent clashes between protesters and police since parliamentary elections in October, with tensions escalating over the government’s recent decision to pause EU accession talks.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan Al Jubair
