U.S. Department of Treasury Sanctions Georgian MIA Officials for Brutality Against Protesters, Journalists, and Politicians
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned on December 19 the Minster of Interior Vakhtang Gomelauri and a 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 (Kharazishvili), and his Deputy, Mileri Lagazauri (Lagazauri).
The US Department of Treasury said in its press release that this action was coordinated with the United Kingdom, which earlier today designated five individuals responsible for human rights violations in Georgia.
The official press release of the Treasury Office said that “security forces from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Special Task Department responded to protests with disproportionate violence to suppress dissent and discourage protesters.” It noted that the Department “utilized tactics including mass beatings, verbal abuse, and threats of sexual violence” noting that the police violence by members of the Special Task Department occurred while individuals were in police custody, in detention, and at locations outside the protest area. The press release also notes that the Department also “deliberately targeted journalists as they reported on the violence and repeatedly abused detained protesters.”
The Sanctions’ Implications
As a result of the sanctions, “all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.”
In addition, as the press release explains “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.”
Moreover, the OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
The releases notes that “financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action.”
Also Read:
- 19/12/2024 – UK Sanctions Senior Georgian Authorities, Including Minister of Interior
- 17/12/2024 – Senator Cardin Calls for U.S. Magnitsky Sanctions on GD Over Brutal Crackdown on Protesters
- 05/12/2024 – U.S. Secretary of State Condemns Georgian Dream’s Violence, Promises Additional Sanctions
- 02/12/2024 – Senators Shaheen, Risch Express Concern Over Violence in Georgia, Call on U.S. Sanctions Against GD Gov’t
- 16/09/2024 – BREAKING: U.S. Imposes New Sanctions for Undermining Democracy
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