The United States has announced sanctions against Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and the Deputy Head of the Ministry's Special Task's Department Mirza Kezevadze. These measures are being implemented under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program, in response to their alleged involvement in violent crackdowns on media, opposition, and protesters throughout 2024.
In addition to these sanctions, the U.S. Department of State is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on more Georgian individuals and their families. This includes law enforcement and security officials implicated in violence against protesters and municipal government officials accused of abusing power to limit fundamental freedoms, such as voting rights.
These actions follow previous visa restrictions announced last week and expand upon U.S. sanctions imposed on Georgian officials in September. They also align with similar measures taken by the UK today and recent actions by several European countries.
"The United States strongly condemns the Georgian authorities’ ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens," a statement read. "We stand with the people of Georgia and remain committed to promoting accountability for those complicit in human rights abuses."
The Department of Treasury's actions were executed under Executive Order 13818, which supports the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act targeting serious human rights abusers globally. For further details, see Treasury’s press release.
Additionally, the Department of State's visa restrictions were enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act following a policy announced in May 2024.
