US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded to Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze's statement, which claimed that the decision to impose new sanctions was not made by President Biden's administration, but rather by certain forces exerting influence over it.
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"I will say in the United States, unlike some countries in the world, it is the democratically elected government that makes our policy choices and no one else," Miller noted.
On September 16, the United States imposed financial sanctions on two Georgian government representatives: Zviad Kharazishvili, also known as Khareba, and his deputy, Mileri Lagazauri, the director of the Special Tasks Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This action was taken in response to the violent suppression of peaceful protests against the Russian law. Financial sanctions were also imposed on Konstantine Morgoshia and Zurab Makharadze, leaders of Alt-Info, who organized violent attacks on the peaceful demonstrations.
Additionally, the US State Department has imposed visa restrictions on over 60 Georgian citizens and their family members who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia. The names of those sanctioned have not been disclosed, but the department stated that they include high-ranking government and municipal officials, law enforcement officers, business leaders, and individuals who spread misinformation and promote violent extremism.
During a briefing on September 17, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze described the imposition of new sanctions as "both frivolous and a very sad event." He argued that the issue does not lie with the State Department, but rather with oligarchic forces exerting principal influence over official institutions in the United States.
"I do not believe that Biden made this decision. I think it was made by certain forces that have informal influence on his administration," Kobakhidze said.
Later, during a meeting with US Ambassador Robin Dunnigan, the Prime Minister conveyed that the imposition of sanctions has brought the American side to a "critical limit." Kobakhidze also remarked that the decision taken by the US State Department aims to improve the opposition's chances before the elections. However, he argued that it is counterproductive, as it will neither benefit the opposition’s election results nor intimidate the ruling team.
