Transparency International Georgia reports that Western governments have imposed sanctions on more than 230 representatives of the ruling party Georgian Dream, with the identities of 141 individuals made public, while the rest face undisclosed visa and travel restrictions.
The organization says those sanctioned include billionaire founder of Georgian Dream Bidzina Ivanishvili and four members of his family, 52 high-ranking officials, 47 judges, 17 prosecutors, and 14 police officers.
“Democratic countries are sanctioning these individuals for brutally dispersing peaceful protesters, undermining democracy, halting Georgia’s Euro-integration process, advancing Russian interests, rigging elections, corruption, propaganda, and going against the will of the Georgian people,” Transparency International Georgia stated.
Since the spring of 2024, several countries have introduced anonymous visa restrictions against more than 200 Georgian officials. The United States has imposed visa bans on over 110 people, including members of Georgian Dream, parliamentarians, high-level government and municipal officials, law enforcement and security officers, business leaders, propagandists, and their family members. Germany has barred entry to 13 Georgians linked to violence against protesters, Latvia has banned 84, and Poland has blocked entry to eight law enforcement officials.
On January 27, 2025, the European Council suspended the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders. By June, Georgian Dream leaders confirmed that 11 EU member states had already enforced the suspension: Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Italy, with the Czech Republic joining in September. Transparency International Georgia estimates the restrictions may affect at least 1,000 officials and their families, given the number of diplomatic and service passports issued.
In addition, the European Parliament on February 13, 2025, adopted a resolution refusing to recognize the Georgian Dream government, calling for an end to repression, fresh elections, and asset freezes against Ivanishvili, his family, senior party officials, business associates, and propagandists. In total, the resolution named 31 individuals for targeted sanctions.
Western pressure has continued through 2025. In September, the United Kingdom sanctioned former chief prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze and businessman Levan Vasadze for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Czech Republic imposed financial sanctions on five officials accused of involvement in repressions, including Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, judges Koba Chagunava, Nino Galustashvili, Mikhail Jinjolia, and prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze.
Transparency International Georgia emphasizes that Western governments are maintaining and expanding sanction measures in response to what they describe as Georgian Dream’s authoritarian turn and its distancing from democratic values.
