The illegitimate government of Georgia has described the decision by the Estonian and Lithuanian governments to impose sanctions on around twenty Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, as "anti-Georgian." It also stated that it would not take any "countermeasures."
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“The Georgian authorities have the right and ability to counter the anti-Georgian decision of the Governments of Lithuania and Estonia with reciprocal measures. However, because of respect for the Lithuanians and the Estonians, we believe it unreasonable to take said step. We have decided to remain in the mode of unilateral friendship with both states lest we, on our part, undermine the traditional friendship between the people of Georgia, Estonia, and Lithuania,” the government’s press service stated in a statement.
The statement further asserts that Estonia and Lithuania “have the most limited sovereignty in the European Union today” and that their governments “act not in the interests of their own people, but at the behest of a foreign administration.”
“This is the main reason why the governments of the aforementioned states are forced to act against their own dignity. It is unfortunate that, despite 33 years of independence, the governments of Lithuania and Estonia have not yet managed to free themselves from the Soviet mentality.
We wish our friendly Estonian and Lithuanian peoples the strengthening of their sovereignty and all the best in 2025!” declared the illegitimate government of Georgia.
On December 2, Estonia and Lithuania imposed visa sanctions on the Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri, and nine other senior officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. On December 15, the countries expanded the list of those sanctioned, with 14 more senior Georgian officials banned from entering Estonia and 17 from entering Lithuania. Irakli Kobakhidze is among those listed.
“I call on all EU countries to react and to take actions against those who use disproportionate force and brutal violence against the Georgian people, undermining democracy,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry also published a list of 17 additional sanctioned individuals. In addition to Irakli Kobakhidze, the list includes the head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili, the Secretary General of Georgian Dream and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, the Chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeal Mikheil Chinchaladze, the Executive Secretary of Georgian Dream Mamuka Mdinaradze, and the owner of the state propaganda TV company Imedi, Irakli Rukhadze.
