The Czech government has added five Georgian citizens to its national sanctions list.
According to Czech media, the individuals sanctioned include Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandr Darakhvelidze, who, according to the Czech Foreign Ministry, publicly defended the use of force and violence by Georgian security forces against protesters; Judge Koba Chagunava; Judge Nino Galustashvili; Judge Mikheil Jinjolia and State Prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze.
According to the Czech Foreign Ministry, which submitted the proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers, they are responsible for the brutal crackdown during last year’s and this year’s protests.
According to the Czech Foreign Minister, similar measures have already been taken by the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. However, he said, there is still no consensus in the EU on imposing sanctions against human rights violators in Georgia.
At the end of January, the Czech government sanctioned three employees of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs for their participation in the crackdown on protests: Director of the Special Tasks Department Zviad Kharazishvili, his deputy Mirza Kezevadze, and Director of the Patrol Police Department Vazha Siradze.
Czech Republic sanctions Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, Prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze and Judges Koba Chagunava, Nino Galustashvili and Mikheil Jinjolia
