Mikheil Kavelashvili has awarded the highest special rank of Police Colonel-General to Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Minister of Internal Affairs under the Georgian Dream government, who is under sanctions imposed by the US. The relevant decree is dated January 14, 2025.
“On the awarding of the highest special rank of Police Colonel General to Vakhtang Gomelauri, in accordance with Subparagraph “g” of Paragraph 1 of Article 52 of the Constitution of Georgia, and Paragraph 3 of Article 7 of the Law of Georgia “On State Special Ranks”, the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Vakhtang Gomelauri shall be awarded the highest special rank of Police Colonel General,” the document states.
On December 19, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Minster of Interior Vakhtang Gomelauri and Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department, Mirza Kezevadze for brutal crackdowns on media members, opposition figures, and protesters, including during demonstrations throughout 2024.
The two MIA officials are being sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act, following the September 16, 2024 sanctions of two other Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs officials. The previously sanctioned individuals were the Head of the same Special Task Department of the MIA, Zviad Kharazishvili, and his Deputy, Mileri Lagazauri.
