Estonia imposes sanctions on 14 Georgian officials, including PM Kobakhidze

Estonia has announced sanctions against 14 additional Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, citing concerns over human rights violations and violence against protesters, journalists, and opposition leaders.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna shared the decision on social media, stating, “Estonia sanctioned another 14 Georgian authorities, including Prime Minister Kobakhidze. The violence perpetrated by the Georgian authorities against protesters, journalists, and opposition leaders is criminal and against human rights. I call on all EU countries to react and to take actions.”

The sanctions include a travel ban to Estonia for the listed individuals, which reportedly also covers judges. The move comes as part of Estonia’s growing criticism of the Georgian government’s handling of political dissent and its alleged erosion of democratic norms.

Estonia has urged other EU member states to follow suit, emphasizing the need for a unified European response to address the situation in Georgia.

Earlier, Estonia already imposed sanctions on 11 high-ranking officials, including on December 2, along with Lithuania and Latvia, including visa sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili and 10 senior officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.