According to information from International Transparency Georgia, Western countries have sanctioned over 230 representatives of “Georgian Dream,” with the identities of 141 made public, while anonymous visa/travel restrictions have been imposed on the rest.
As stated in the information disseminated by the organization, among the sanctioned individuals are: Bidzina Ivanishvili and 4 family members, 52 high-ranking officials of “Georgian Dream,” 47 judges, 17 prosecutors, and 14 police officers.
“Democratic countries are sanctioning these individuals for brutally dispersing peaceful protesters, undermining democracy, halting the Euro-integration process, advancing Russian interests in Georgia, rigging elections, corruption, propaganda, and going against the will of the Georgian people. Since the spring of 2024, several countries have imposed anonymous visa/travel restrictions on representatives of ‘Georgian Dream,’ affecting over 200 individuals. The United States has imposed visa restrictions on over 110 individuals, including members of the ‘Georgian Dream’ party, parliamentarians, high-ranking officials of the government and municipal authorities, law enforcement and security officials, corrupt business leaders, propagandists, some private citizens, and all family members of these individuals. The exact identities of these individuals have not been disclosed due to visa confidentiality legislation. However, the restrictions also extend to the family members of each sanctioned person, meaning the total number of sanctioned individuals is in the hundreds. Germany – entry ban imposed on 13 Georgian citizens who ‘are responsible for violence against protesters and opposition members.’ Their identities have not been officially disclosed, though information about 9 individuals was circulated in the media. Latvia – entry ban imposed on 84 Georgian citizens. Their identities have not been disclosed. Poland – entry ban imposed on 8 representatives of Georgian law enforcement agencies responsible for violence against protesters. Their identities have not been disclosed.
On January 27, 2025, the European Council adopted a decision to suspend the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports. At the end of June 2025, “Georgian Dream’s” Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker confirmed that the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomatic and service passports had already been suspended by 11 EU member states: Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy. In September 2025, the Czech Republic was added to the list. It is likely that this restriction affected at least 1,000 Georgian officials and their family members, considering how many officials are issued diplomatic or service passports (up to 700) and how many public institutions have quotas for issuing such passports to their employees (up to 200); additionally, the Prime Minister has the authority to issue diplomatic passports exceptionally to any individual.
Furthermore, on February 13, 2025, the European Parliament adopted another critical resolution that does not recognize the self-proclaimed government of “Georgian Dream,” calls on “Georgian Dream” to cease violent repressions and hold new elections. The resolution calls on EU member states to freeze assets and personally sanction Bidzina Ivanishvili, his family, high-ranking officials of “Georgian Dream,” business and state structure associates, and propagandists. In total, the European Parliament resolution demands sanctions against 31 individuals.
Western countries continue their sanction policy in response to “Georgian Dream’s” authoritarianism. Sanctions were announced by the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic in September. The United Kingdom sanctioned 2 individuals for “supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine”: former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze and pro-Russian businessman Levan Vasadze. The Czech Republic imposed financial sanctions on 5 individuals for involvement in repressions: Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, and judges: Koba Chagunava, Nino Galustashvili, Mikhail Jinjolia, and prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze,” the information disseminated by the organization states.
International Transparency Georgia: The West Has Sanctioned Over 230 Representatives of “Georgian Dream” – Among the Sanctioned Are: Ivanishvili and 4 Family Members, 52 High-Ranking Officials, 47 Judges, 17 Prosecutors, and 14 Police Officers
