Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have agreed to impose national sanctions against those who are cracking down on protests in Georgia, outgoing Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis announced on Sunday.
“The three Baltic States jointly agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia,” Landsbergis wrote on X. “Opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries.”
The Foreign Ministry told BNs that the sanctions are aimed at ten senior officials at Georgia’s Interior Ministry.
The move comes after riot police in Tbilisi used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas against protestors who, in turn, had thrown pyrotechnics at officers.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the use of force against the Georgian people on Sunday and called for new parliamentary elections. In this, he echoed calls from Georgia’s own pro-European president Salome Zourabichvili.
Thousands of people have rallied in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities in the wake of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announcing last Thursday that his government will suspend further negotiations on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union until 2028.
The prime minister’s announcement came after the European Parliament passed a resolution of non-recognition as to Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary election results, with EMPs citing “significant irregularities” in the process.
The Black Sea nation has faced increasing turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in an election which pro-European opposition groups say was rigged.
Source: BNS
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