UK sanctions senior Georgian minister following protest crackdown
Georgia’s interior minister Vakhtang Gomelauri is one of the high-ranking officials now banned from travelling to Britain.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A senior minister in the government of Georgia is among five people from the country who have been sanctioned by the UK for links to human rights violations.
Georgia’s interior minister Vakhtang Gomelauri is one of the high-ranking officials now banned from travelling to Britain and subject to an asset freeze.
The move follows a crackdown on demonstrations, civil society and the media in the Caucasian nation after the ruling political party, Georgian Dream, paused the country’s tilt towards Europe.
Our action today shows that the UK stands with the people of Georgia and will consider all options to ensure those responsible are held to account
The UK has also paused all support for the Georgian government and is restricting engagement with its leading politicians.
Others facing sanctions are Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, deputy minister of internal affairs, and three policing figures: Sulkhan Tamazashvili, Tbilisi police department director, Zviad Kharazishvili, chief of the special tasks department, and his deputy Mileri Lagazauri.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The shocking violence inflicted upon protestors, opposition leaders and journalists is an egregious attack on democracy, and the Georgian people’s right to exercise their fundamental freedoms.
“Our action today shows that the UK stands with the people of Georgia and will consider all options to ensure those responsible are held to account.”
The United States has carried out similar sanctions, in a coordinated move between the UK and its close ally.