Iskra Kirova and Giorgi Gogia, Human Rights Watch officials, called on the European Union to take critical action against Georgian authorities for interfering with peaceful protests.
In a joint statement, they highlighted the necessity for EU foreign ministers to push for an independent investigation into the handling of the protests. They warned that “the government’s strict response to protests risks a human rights crisis in Georgia.”
The statement also emphasized the need for proper sanctions on officials responsible for the suppression of demonstrators, proposing visa restrictions. “EU member states must reach a consensus to apply the global human rights sanctions regime against those accountable for these actions,” the statement reads.
Most importantly, Kirova and Gogia mentioned that strict decisive measures on officials must be balanced with stronger support for the Georgian people and media to address the political crisis.
