Britain sanctioned four more Georgian officials, including the country’s first deputy minister of internal affairs Shalva Bedoidze, for allegedly being responsible for allowing serious human rights violations.
It has also sanctioned Mirza Kezevadze, deputy head of the special tasks department of internal affairs ministry, general prosecutor Giorgi Gabitashvi and Karlo Katsitadze, head of the special investigatory service.
Based on the information posted on the UK government, this package of sanctions is aimed at Georgian officials responsible for committing serious human rights violations under the 2020 Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulation.
The sanctions include an asset freeze, a director disqualification sanction, and a travel ban.
The UK has accused all four officials of being responsible for serious human rights violations:
- Giorgi Gabitashvili failed to investigate or hold security forces accountable for violence against protesters.
- Karlo Katsitadze also failed to conduct proper investigations into cases of police brutality.
- Mirza Kezevadze is held responsible for the actions of security forces who used violence.
- Shalva Bedoidze is linked to the excessive use of force by police against demonstrators.
Earlier, on 2 April, the UK imposed similar sanctions on two Georgian judges — Mikheil Chinchaladze and Levan Murusidze.
