Estonia, in cooperation with Lithuania, on Sunday, the 15th of December, imposed an entry ban on Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and several other high-ranking officials for authorising violence against protesters, reports Estonian media ERR.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna imposed sanctions on 14 more Georgian officials and judges, banning them from entering Estonia.
“The Georgian authorities’ violence against protesters, journalists and opposition leaders is unacceptable, criminal and a violation of human rights,” said the Foreign Minister.
“I call on all EU countries to react to what is happening in Georgia and to take concrete measures against those who use unjustified force and brutal violence against the Georgian people and undermine democracy,” the minister added.
Lithuania added 17 more officials to the list, including Kobakhidze, newly appointed Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said, confirming that this had been coordinated with Estonia.
“We will not tolerate the repression and violence against peaceful protesters, journalists and the opposition. Now is the time for joint action at EU level!” he wrote on X.
Earlier this month, the Baltic State countries imposed sanctions on 11 top Georgian officials, including the Interior Minister and Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The others were linked to the Interior Ministry and law enforcement agencies.
Until the US published its list on the 12th of December, the Baltic countries were the only ones to have imposed sanctions.
Protests in Georgia have been ongoing for more than two weeks, since Kobakhidze announced that his government would suspend the EU accession process. The authorities have used violence, tear gas and water cannons against protesters.
BNN has already reported that the protests are likely to gain momentum following the election of a new president on Saturday, a candidate backed by Kobakhidze’s Georgian Dream party.