Europe Violence in Georgia: EU makes demands
The EU is calling for consequences for those responsible for violence against pro-European demonstrators in Georgia. Whether there will also be EU sanctions, however, remains unclear even after a summit meeting. At the same time, the US government imposed sanctions against Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and a high-ranking police officer. Their possible assets in the USA would be blocked and business with the two would be made more difficult, it said.
19.12.2024, 21:26
SDA
The EU heads of state and government strongly condemned the violence and called on the authorities to respect the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. "All acts of violence must be investigated and those responsible must be held accountable," they said in a statement.
Protests against the Russia-friendly ruling party Georgian Dream have been taking place in Georgia since the end of October and have intensified following the postponement of EU accession negotiations until the end of 2028 by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. There were violent riots, injuries and several hundred arrests. The police are accused of violence and torture.
EU sanction plans recently failed
The EU emphasized that if the Georgian authorities changed their current course of action, it was still prepared to support the Georgian people's European aspirations and the country's path to accession. It had put the accession process on hold for the time being on its own initiative in June. One of the reasons for this was a new law to tighten controls on civil society.
EU sanction plans against those responsible for violence in Georgia recently failed because of Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto justified the veto by claiming that the EU was taking sides with the protesters.
However, the plan to revoke the right of Georgians with diplomatic or official passports to enter the EU without a visa until further notice is still being pursued. According to Foreign Affairs Commissioner Kaja Kallas, the EU Commission will present an official proposal on the subject by the end of the year. This could be adopted with a majority vote.
