UK sanctions Georgian interior minister and police chiefs for human rights abuses

The United Kingdom announced Thursday, December 19, sanctions against Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, his deputy minister and three police chiefs for “violation of human rights” during the “brutal” repression of recent pro-European Union (EU) demonstrations.

“The shocking violence inflicted on protesters, opposition leaders and journalists are blatant attacks on democracy and the right of the Georgian people to exercise their fundamental freedoms”declared the British Foreign Minister, David Lammy, quoted in a press release.

In addition to the Minister of the Interior, London sanctioned his deputy minister, Alexandre Darakhvelidze, the director of the Tbilisi police, Sulkhan Tamazashvili, and two senior officials of the Ministry of the Interior, Zviad Kharazichvili and Mileri Lagazaouri.

“Responsible for violent attacks”

As a result of these sanctions, decided according to the press release in cooperation with the United States, they are now subject to a ban on traveling to British territory and a freezing of their assets, which prevents in particular any citizen or UK entity to have financial or commercial dealings with them.

According to London, these five leaders are “responsible for violent attacks against journalists and peaceful demonstrators” during the pro-EU demonstrations which have been taking place in their country for more than a month.

They were caused by the decision of the government of the ruling party, Georgian Dream, to suspend until 2028 all negotiations for accession to the European Union. The opposition also accuses this party of having rigged the legislative elections which took place at the end of October and in which it claimed victory.

At the beginning of December, the British government announced that it would suspend “any support program” to the Georgian government and restrict its military cooperation with Tbilisi as well as its relations with representatives of the Georgian government. On Monday, the United States announced that it was preparing new sanctions against Georgia, while the EU has not taken sanctions for the moment, due to lack of unanimity among the Twenty-Seven.