“All options are on the table” as the EU addresses democratic deterioration in Georgia, including sanctions

Brussels – The democratic backsliding in Georgia and the increasing violence carried out by special police forces are backfiring on Georgian Dream. After Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine imposed sanctions on those responsible for suppressing legitimate protests, the EU and the US are considering following suit, increasing pressure on the ruling party and supporting the efforts of hundreds of thousands of people who have been taking to the streets for seven consecutive nights.

“All options are on the table when it comes to the EU response for the continuous democratic deterioration in Georgia,” EEAS spokesperson Anitta Hipper announced on 5 December in response to a question about the possibility of imposing sanctions on the ruling party’s officials responsible for an unprecedented wave of violence and the suppression of constitutional rights. “This something we will look into,” Hipper confirmed, quoting EU Hugh Representative Kaja Kallas: “There will be consequences for this democratic backslide.” The situation in the EU candidate country is “of great concern” and “deeply troubling,” particularly in light of “arbitrary detention, violence against politicians, journalists, and opposition leaders,” the EEAS spokesperson emphasized.

A few hours earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that “in addition to continuing our previously announced comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation, the United States is now preparing to use the tools at our disposal, including additional sanctions“. Blinken condemned “Georgian Dream party’s brutal and unjustified violence,” and called on the ruling party to “cease its repressive tactics, including its use of arbitrary detention and physical violence, to attempt to silence its critics.” The U.S. Secretary of State also warned that “those who undermine democratic processes or institutions–including those who suppress Georgian citizens’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression– will be held to account.”

“We call on the EU and its Member States to introduce personal sanctions against all those political leaders of the Georgian Dream who are responsible for the reported election irregularities and subsequent repressions against Georgian citizens protesting on the streets.” This appeal was made by several members of the European Parliament, including the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister (EPP), the Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Nils Ušakovs (S&D), the Chair of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Sergey Lagodinsky (The Greens/EFA) and the Standing Rapporteur for Georgia of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP). “Furthermore, we recall our demand to introduce targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili [oligarch and founder of Georgian Dream, ed] who is the person ultimately politically responsible for the wave of repressions and the suspension of the European integration process.”

Protests and police violence in Georgia

One month after the controversial elections on 26 October—marred by electoral fraud, as denounced by President Zourabichvili, opposition parties, and civil society—Prime Minister Kobakhidze announced that his government will not put “the opening of accession negotiations with the EU on the agenda before the end of 2028.” During this period, the government also plans to “reject any EU budget support grants.”

The decision has sparked a wave of strong protests from the citizens, who are overwhelmingly pro-EU and consider the departure from the European family as a theft of their future. For seven consecutive nights, protests have been taking place not only in Tbilisi but almost in all cities in Georgia against the “illegitimate government.” Peaceful protesters have been facing increasing violence from the special police forces, who are also using water cannons mixed with pepper spray to disperse the crowd, while protesters are organising to resist through barricades and fireworks.

On December 4, a wave of unprecedented and violent arrests took place in private homes and offices of opposition politicians and protest leaders. More than 300 people are currently detained for joining the protests, of whom around 250 have been brutally beaten. Among the most glaring examples was the arrest of Nika Gvaramia, a leader of Coalition 4 Change, who was physically assaulted by masked men while demanding the formal explanations for the police raid on the offices of the main opposition coalition. “We will put an end to any manifestation of cohabitation in our country. We will do everything to completely eradicate liberal fascism in our country,” Prime Minister Kobakhidze threatened the following day, demonstrating that the ruling party would stop at nothing to maintain power.

BREAKING: @NikaGvaramia212 one of the leaders of Coalition 4 Change @CoalitionGEO was dragged by the police and thrown into a detention car as he was physically assaulted and unconscious. This happened at the @GIRCHIMF – @DroaParty office at Sharashidze Street. #GeorgiaProtests pic.twitter.com/wMwVYm2G6L

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@Mikiashvili_M) December 4, 2024