On June 6, the U.S. State Department, through its spokesperson Matthew Miller, revealed the implementation of the initial phase of sanctions targeting officials in the Georgian government.
This inaugural set of punitive measures features travel restrictions aimed at a “dozens” of individuals, which include members affiliated with the dominant Georgian Dream party, legislators, law enforcement authorities, and some civilians. According to Miller, these travel restrictions are also applicable to immediate family members of those unnamed parties.
This decision follows a remark made by Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, two weeks prior, stating the administration’s intent to invoke a visa restriction policy for those involved in subverting democratic processes in Georgia.
The democratic integrity of Georgia has been in question especially following the passage of a “foreign agents” rule by the governing Georgian Dream party. The contentious law mandates organizations with foreign financial backing to register as “foreign agents”, similar to punitive regulations in Russia targeting critics of the Kremlin.
Protests of significant scale ensued in Georgia over the law, leading to tense standoffs where demonstrators faced off with police who deployed water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
Clarifying the sanctions, Miller indicated that these measures represent an initial action and that the Georgian government still has an opportunity to amend its course.
When probed about further actions if Georgia persists on its current path, Miller suggested the U.S. is fully prepared to intensify sanctions and take necessary steps as deemed fit.
“The future policy actions will reflect Georgia’s policy decisions,” he noted.
Previously, Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and secretary-general of Georgian Dream, expressed his belief that sanctions would not materialize.
“There is no reason to anticipate sanctions being imposed since we haven’t engaged in any sanctionable behavior,” declared Kaladze.
Although Miller stated he couldn’t reveal the names of those sanctioned due to legal limitations, he mentioned that the affected individuals would become aware of their status upon attempting to secure a U.S. visa or during an ongoing application process.
Additionally, there are talks within several EU nations about enforcing sanctions on Georgia relative to the law, potentially affecting the visa-free travel facility. Members of the European Parliament have also suggested that Georgia’s EU candidacy should be put on hold given the circumstances.
Key Points: Why protests in Georgia are ongoing?
Protests have been ongoing in Georgia for many weeks, with thousands converging nightly at the Georgian parliament building, voicing their objections to the disputed foreign agents legislation pushed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The decisive vote is anticipated to occur on May 14. This law would necessitate certain organizations to
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FAQs About US Sanctions on Georgian Officials
Who has the US imposed sanctions on in Georgia?
The US has imposed travel sanctions on individuals associated with the Georgian Dream Party, members of parliament, law enforcement, and certain private citizens, as well as their immediate family members. The exact names of these individuals have not been disclosed.
Why did the US impose sanctions on these individuals?
The sanctions were in response to actions taken that are considered to undermine democratic processes in Georgia, including the passing of the “foreign agents” law that mirrors repressive Russian legislation.
What are the possible impacts of these sanctions?
The primary impact of these sanctions is travel restrictions to the United States for the individuals affected and their families. This move may also influence the decisions and policies of the Georgian government and could signal potential further actions from the US and possibly the EU if democratic backsliding continues.
Will the EU follow with its own sanctions?
Several EU countries have reportedly been considering sanctions against Georgia over the “foreign agents” law, including the suspension of the visa-free regime. The European Parliament has also hinted at the possibility of suspending Georgia’s EU candidacy.
Can these US sanctions be reversed?
According to the State Department, there is still time for the Georgian government to reverse its course, suggesting that sanctions can be reconsidered based on the government’s future actions and commitments to democratic principles.