
UPDATE: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Expand Sanctions on Georgian Officials
On March 3, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announced additional sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations in Georgia, with Estonia specifically targeting judges, prosecutors, police officers and other officials accused of enforcing repressive measures on behalf of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.
Estonia has sanctioned 55 individuals, Lithuania has added 74 names to its blacklist and Latvia has sanctioned 16 individuals. The restrictions include travel bans and apply to individuals sanctioned for their roles in judicial actions and crackdowns.
“The violence used in Georgia against protesters, journalists, and opposition leaders is unacceptable, criminal, and in violation of human rights,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. “The list includes judges, prosecutors, police officials and police commissioners, platform creators and members of parliament, who are responsible for the prosecution of protesters by the judicial system and judiciary and law enforcement agencies. The listed Georgian individuals have either taken part in violence or threatened it,” he added. Estonia has now banned a total of 83 Georgian officials from entering the country.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys reiterated his country’s support for the Georgian people, stating: “We stand with the people of Georgia in their pursuit of democracy and a European future.”
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze announced: “I have added 16 Georgian citizens to Latvia’s persona non grata list, banning them from entry into Latvia for an unlimited time. This decision was made in accordance with Section 61(2) of the Immigration Law.”
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were among the first countries to respond to Georgia’s democratic backsliding and crackdown on peaceful protesters. The three countries had previously sanctioned GD patron Bidzina Ivanishvili and senior Interior Ministry officials. This is another round of targeted sanctions against individuals accused of undermining democracy in Georgia.
The Baltic States continue to emphasize their commitment to supporting Georgia’s democratic aspirations and European integration, while holding officials accountable for alleged human rights violations.
Individuals Sanctioned by Estonia
The Estonian government has released a list of sanctioned individuals, which includes:
- Judges: Irakli Khuskivadze, Tamar Mchedlishvili, Lela Maridashvili, Levan Kolbaia, Davit Mgeliashvili, Nana Shamatava, Teona Epitashvili, Arsen Kalatozishvili, Lela Kalichenko, Davit Kurtanidze, Irma Togonidze, Guliko Kazhashvili, Ketevan Jachvadze, Nino Tarashvili, Giorgi Gelashvili, Natia Gudadze, Nato Khujadze, Zviad Sharadze, Irakli Dgebuadze, Eka Barbakadze.
- Prosecutors: Vaja (Vazha) Todua, Shmagi Gobejishvili, Zviad Gubeladze, Ana Metreveli, Giorgi Mukbaniani, Roin Khintibidze, Tamar Iakobidze, Vladimer (Vladimir) Turmanidze, Nugzar (Nukri) Chitadze, Tornike Gogeshvili, Paata Tsetskhladze, Zaza Metonidze, Nino Sakhelashvili, Malkhaz Okropirashvili, Vera Dolidze.
- Police Officers: Giorgi Chareqashvili (Charekashvili), Tornike Menabde, Sulkhan Kiknadze, Revaz Tsurtsumia, Zviad Margvelani, Zurab Charibashvili, Davit Maruashvili, Otar Gelashvili, Nodari Zenaishvili, Berdia Peradze.
- Police Chiefs: Chief of Police of the Adjara Region, Grigol Beselia; Chief of Police of the Batumi Region, Davit Atabegashvili; Chief of Police of the Batumi Region, Gocha Vanadze.
- Members of Parliament: Lasha Talakhadze, Irakli Zarkua, Viktor Sanikidze, Gela Samkharauli, Beka Odisharia.
- Alt-Info Figures: Konstantine Morgoshia, Zurab Makharadze.
The names of those sanctioned by Latvia are not immediately available.
On April 15, Lithuania published a list of all 102 sanctioned Georgian individuals. The list includes top GD officials, its MPs, as well as police and senior judges, including the judges of the Constitutional Court of Georgia. These individuals are banned from entering Lithuania until 2029-2030.
- Bidzina Ivanishvili;
- Vakhtang Gomelauri;
- Shalva Bedoidze;
- Ioseb Chelidze;
- Aleksandre Darakhvelidze;
- Giorgi Butkhuzi;
- Zviad Kharazishvili;
- Mileri Lagazauri;
- Mirza Kezevadze;
- Vazha Siradze;
- Teimuraz Kupatadze;
- Goga Khaindrava;
- Grigol Liluashvili;
- Irakli Kobakhidze;
- Giorgi Kobakhidze;
- Kakha Kaladze;
- Zviad Shalamberidze;
- Shalva Tadumadze;
- Mikheil Chinchaladze;
- Tea Tsulukiani;
- Irakli Karseladze;
- Mamuka Mdinaradze;
- Kakhi Bekauri;
- Otar Romanov-Partskhaladze;
- Irakli Rukhadze;
- Levan Murusidze;
- Viktor Japaridze;
- Dito Samkharadze;
- Dimitri Mchedlidze;
- Sulkhan Kiknadze;
- Irma Togonidze;
- Tornike Menabde;
- Lela Mildenbergeri;
- Merab Turava;
- Lasha Salukvadze;
- Zviad Tsekvava;
- Lela Maridashvili;
- Manuchar Tsatsua;
- Nino Maradashvili
- Lasha Jokhadze;
- Giorgi Chareqashvili;
- Nino Enukidze;
- Teimuraz Kalandadze;
- Tamar Mchedlishvili;
- Levan Kolbaia;
- Grigol Beselia;
- Irakli Khuskivadze;
- Vazha Todua;
- Zaza Metonidze;
- Eka Barbakadze;
- Otar Gelashvili;
- Irakli Dgebuadze;
- Shmagi Gomejishvili;
- Vasil Roinishvili;
- Paata Tsetskhladze;
- Zviad Gubeladze;
- Davit Maruashvili;
- Lela Tsagareishvili;
- Davit Mgeliashvili;
- Khatuna Bolkvadze;
- Levan Gegechkori;
- Ana Metreveli;
- Koba Chagunava;
- Zurab Gharishvili;
- Giorgi Mukbaniani;
- Nana Shamatava;
- Nino Chabukiani;
- Nugzar Chitadze;
- Roin Khuntibidze;
- Davit Kurtanidze;
- Teona Epitashvili
- Ani Khubejashvili;
- Zviad Sharadze;
- Tamar Iakobidze;
- Nino Sakhelashvili;
- Zviad Margelani;
- Nato Khujadze;
- Arsen Kalatozishvili;
- Lela Kalichenko;
- Natia Gudadze;
- Revaz Tsurtsumia;
- Giorgi Gelashvili;
- Nino Tarashvili;
- Ketevan Jachvadze;
- Manana Kobakhidze
- Eva Gotsiridze;
- Giorgi Tevdorashvili;
- Irine Imerlishvili;
- Khvicha Kikilashvili;
- Guliko Kazhashvili;
- Tornike Gogeshvili;
- Vladimer Turmanidze;
- Malkhaz Okropirashvili;
- Davit Atabegashvili;
- Gocha Vanadze;
- Nodari Zenaishvili;
- Berdia Peradze;
- Giorgi Bzhalava;
- Vakhtang Bolkvadze;
- Davit Antadze;
- Archil Antadze;
- Tsotne Kartvelishvili.
Also Read:
- 21/12/2024 – Latvia Sanctions Another 13 Georgian Citizens
- 15/12/2024 – Lithuania Sanctions Kobakhidze, 16 Other Officials Over Crackdown
- 02/12/2024 – Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia Sanction Ivanishvili, MIA Officials
This post is also available in: ქართული Русский