The Georgian State Security Service on Friday said it was “studying” the statement by the United Department of State this week over sanctioning Otar Partskhaladze, a former Prosecutor General under the current authorities in 2013. 

The body claimed it was looking into the issue due to “high public interest”. 

The US State Department said it had sanctioned the former official for “influencing Georgian society and politics for the benefit of Russia”, adding Aleksandr Onishchenko, a Russian FSB officer, had also been included on the list of more than 150 along with Partskhaladze. 

The body claimed Onishchenko had reportedly assisted Partskhaladze in obtaining a Russian passport and possibly Russian citizenship. 

The sanctions mean Partskhaladze’s assets and interests registered in the US would be blocked. 

The Georgian Dream officials claimed Partskhaladze had “no connections” with any state structures over the past 10 years.