Lithuania has imposed sanctions on an additional 17 Georgian politicians, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, announced Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Kęstutis Budrys, 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 and oppression against peaceful protesters, journalists and the opposition,” he wrote.
He also called for joint actions at the European Union level.
A few hours earlier, the Estonian Foreign Ministry also announced a decision to expand the list of sanctioned Georgian politicians, adding 13 more officials to the list, including Irakli Kobakhidze.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry did not make the list of those sanctioned public. In an official statement, it was written:
“The violence that the Georgian authorities are using against protesters, journalists and opposition leaders is unacceptable, a crime and a violation of human rights. We call on all EU countries to respond to what is happening in Georgia and to take concrete measures against those who are using excessive force and brutal violence against the people of Georgia and undermining democracy.”
Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia imposed visa sanctions on 11 high-ranking officials on December 2, including Bidzina Ivanishvili and 10 senior officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.