The United Kingdom has taken the unprecedented step of sanctioning Georgia’s general prosecutor, becoming the first state to do so, amid escalating concerns over human rights abuses and democratic backsliding in the country.
Giorgi Gabitashvili, along with three other senior Georgian officials, has been subjected to asset freezes and travel bans under Britain’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020. The measures, announced by the Foreign Office on Thursday, mark a significant escalation in international pressure on the Georgian authorities, following a wave of protests and a crackdown on civil liberties.
The sanctions come in response to what the Foreign Office described as “serious human rights violations” perpetrated during and after public demonstrations last year, which were sparked by the ruling party’s decision to suspend European Union accession talks and implement controversial legislation perceived to mirror Russian tactics.
The other officials sanctioned alongside Mr Gabitashvili are:
– Karlo Katsitadze, Head of Georgia’s Special Investigatory Services
– Shalva Bedoidze, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs
– Mirza Kezevadze, Deputy Chief of the Special Task Department
All four individuals are now barred from entering the United Kingdom and will see any assets held within British jurisdiction frozen. The Foreign Office said the sanctions are aimed at holding those in power accountable for enabling and overseeing brutal crackdowns on peaceful protestors, including arbitrary arrests and the use of excessive force.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
“These sanctions send a clear message: the UK will not stand by in the face of blatant human rights violations and a lack of accountability from those at the highest levels of power. Georgian authorities are flying in the face of their citizens’ aspirations for a democratic future and European integration.”
He continued:
“We stand with the people of Georgia and their constitutional right to protest, to speak freely, and to pursue a European path. Until the government reverses its current trajectory, the UK will continue to consider all options available to support democracy and civil society in Georgia.”
The announcement comes against the backdrop of growing international concern over Georgia’s democratic direction under the Georgian Dream party. While the party has repeatedly denied ties to the Kremlin, it has introduced legislation bearing striking similarities to Russian laws targeting non-governmental organisations, media outlets, and civil society groups. Critics warn these laws are being used to muzzle dissent and erode fundamental freedoms.
The Foreign Office stressed that the UK’s response has been proportionate but firm. In addition to these latest sanctions, the British Government had already paused the annual UK-Georgia strategic ‘Wardrop Dialogue’, suspended direct governmental programme support, and scaled back engagement with Georgian Dream-led institutions.
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The move is part of a wider shift in UK foreign policy that places a premium on defending democratic values and upholding international human rights norms. Under the 2020 sanctions framework, Britain has the authority to take action against individuals and entities responsible for serious abuses, regardless of where they occur.
The UK’s decision is likely to reverberate through diplomatic circles, potentially prompting allies to follow suit. While the European Union and United States have so far refrained from imposing personal sanctions, both have expressed increasing unease over the state of democracy in Georgia.
In Tbilisi, the government has yet to formally respond to the sanctions, but early indications suggest a combative stance may be taken, further straining ties with the West.
For now, the UK stands alone in targeting Georgia’s top legal official. But as international scrutiny intensifies, the pressure on Georgian leaders to uphold democratic norms and protect fundamental rights is unlikely to abate.
