Protests threaten Georgia’s Kremlin-friendly government The Economist
Day: December 15, 2024
Lithuania, Estonia sanction Georgian authorities
On December 15, Lithuania imposed sanctions on 17 additional Georgian politicians, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys announced on X.
“In coordination with Estonia, we have expanded the list of sanctioned Georgian politicians by adding 17 more individuals, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. We will not tolerate the violence& oppression against peaceful protesters, journalists& the opposition. It’s time for joint EU level action now!“, the statement reads.
Earlier, Estonia announced sanctions against 14 more Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Kobakhidze.
“Estonia sanctioned another 14 Georgian authorities, including Prime Minister Kobakhidze. The violence perpetrated by the Georgian authorities against protesters, journalists & opposition leaders is criminal & against human rights. I call on all EU countries to react & to take actions“, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated on X.
What sanctions and restrictions have been imposed by various countries against the Georgian authorities
● December 5: U.S. journalist Alex Raufoglu shared remarks by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stating that alongside the ongoing review of U.S.-Georgia bilateral relations, the U.S. is preparing to deploy additional measures, including sanctions.
● September 16: The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on the head of Georgia’s special forces, Zviad Kharazishvili (known as “Khareba”), and his deputy, Mileri Lagazauri, for their roles in serious human rights violations during the violent suppression of peaceful protests against the “foreign agents” law. Both were added to the Magnitsky List.
On the same day, the U.S. sanctioned two leaders of the pro-Russian Alt-info movement, Konstantin Morgoshia and Zurab Makharadze, for serious human rights abuses, including violent attacks on citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
Additionally, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on more than 60 members of the Georgian government and parliament, including their family members, for “undermining democracy.”
The Treasury Department announced that all property and assets of these individuals within the U.S. or under U.S. jurisdiction would be frozen.
● June 6: The State Department announced the first package of sanctions, introducing visa restrictions that initially targeted around 30 Georgian officials and lawmakers.
● December 4: U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson issued an urgent statement on Georgia’s current political developments, calling on the State Department and European allies to impose personal sanctions on the Mayor of Tbilisi, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and “all individuals responsible for orchestrating repression.”
● December 5: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, oligarch and leader of “Georgian Dream,” along with 18 of his associates. Zelensky stated that the sanctions target the segment of the Georgian government that is “handing Georgia over to Putin” and called on “Europe, America, and the entire world to act decisively.”
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–https://t.co/T8CxfQzy8o…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) December 15, 2024
Anthony Blinken: “She returned knowing that she might be arrested on arrival.”
The U.S. Department of State awarded Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, with the “Champions of Combating Corruption” award.
Sevinj is known for her work on corruption investigations, and she is currently imprisoned.
In his speech, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted Sevinj’s devotion over the past decade in exposing government abuses.
“She is also the one awardee who is not with us this afternoon. In November 2023, Sevinj flew home from an overseas country amid a crackdown on Azerbaijani independent media. She returned knowing that she might be arrested on arrival. She was. Now, more than a year later, she remains in detention. Prior to her arrest Sevinj wrote and I quote, ‘I don’t feel fear anymore. I know what they can do. It does not stop me. It is more important to be useful to the people. People need us’”
-Antony Blinken
Blinken also expressed gratitude to the ten anti-corruption champions for their courage. He said it was an honor to partner with them in this fight. The Department of State created the “Champions of Combating Corruption” award in 2021 to recognize individuals who have made significant progress in fighting corruption and to show the U.S. government’s solidarity with them.
This year’s award recipients include journalists, human rights defenders, judges, and even government officials who have facilitated major institutional changes. Other awardees include Jorge Mora Cortes from Colombia, Matrika Daxal from Nepal, Altin Dumani from Albania, Srbukhy Galyan from Armenia, Carl Irani from Lebanon, Marr Nyang from Gambia, Javier Enrique Caraballo Salazar from Panama, Didar Smagulov from Kazakhstan, and Jimmy Spyre Ssentongo from Uganda. Blinken emphasized that each recipient made a difficult decision to help their own citizens and all the people around the world, and their dedication, along with those of others, we are in a better place now.
AbzasMedia, the organization behind Sevinj’s work, has also faced significant challenges. Six of its employees, including the general manager Ulvi Hasanlı, assistant Muhammad Kekalov, editor Sevinj Vagifgiz, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafız Babali, have been arrested. These individuals are facing charges of smuggling, with some detained since November 2023.
On May 31, 2024, journalist and economist Farid Mehralizade from the “Azadlig” radio station was arrested, and a search was conducted at his home. He was accused under Article 206.3.2 of the Penal Code, which concerns smuggling by a group of individuals who had previously made secret agreements. The Khatai District Court decided to detain him for security reasons. On the same day, AbzasMedia issued a statement declaring that Mehralizade had no connection to the media organization.
Following this, each of the detainees in the AbzasMedia case was faced with additional serious charges related to financial matters. Since November 2023, nearly 20 journalists and social activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges. None of these individuals have been charged based on their professional activities or political affiliations.
According to local human rights organizations, there are currently around 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons. Authorities typically assert that no one has been detained solely for political reasons related to their professional activities. However, both local and international human rights organizations believe these arrests are politically motivated, and they are calling for the release of the detainees and the withdrawal of the charges against them.
The post Sevinj Vagifgizi honored as anti-corruption champion appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
Lithuania has imposed sanctions on 17 Georgian politicians, including Irakli Kobakhidze, in response to violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys announced. Speaking on the matter, Budrys emphasized Lithuania’s unwavering support for the Georgian people and their European aspirations. The decision comes ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council slated for December 16, which is scheduled to consider the Union-wide sanctions against the Georgian Dream officials.
“Lithuania stands with the people of Georgia and their European dream. In coordination with Estonia, we have expanded the list of sanctioned Georgian politicians by adding 17 more individuals, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze,” Budrys declared. “We will not tolerate violence and oppression against peaceful protesters, journalists, and the opposition. It’s time for joint EU-level action now.”
Earlier, Estonia also imposed sanctions on 14 Georgian Dream (GD) officials, including Kobakhidze.
The Baltic states—Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia—were the first countries to take decisive international action against GD figures, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s honorary chair and patron, as well as high-ranking Ministry of Internal Affairs officials. Among those previously sanctioned were Vakhtang Gomelauri, the interior minister, and Zviad Kharazashvili, the U.S.-sanctioned director of Georgia’s Special Tasks Department.
The latest sanctions come amid mounting concerns over Georgia’s democratic backsliding and human rights violations. The situation escalated after Kobakhidze’s announcement on November 28 that GD would halt EU accession negotiations until 2028. This controversial decision sparked widespread protests, marked by reports of inhumane treatment, illegal detentions, physical injuries, torture, and raids on opposition offices and activists’ homes.
Also Read:
- 13/12/2024 – Senators Shaheen and Risch Call for Immediate U.S. Action in Response to Georgia’s Political Crisis
- 12/12/2024 – UK Ambassador: We are Shocked by Law Enforcement Violence
- 12/12/2024 – MEPs in Tbilisi Meet President, Opposition, CSOs
- 07/12/2024 – Defending the Future: Understanding Georgia’s Fall Protests