The US Department of Treasury sanctioned two Georgian government officials of crackdowns on peaceful protestors and political opponents as well as two private citizens.
“Today’s action underscores our concern about the consequences of anti-democratic actions in Georgia and efforts by key individuals to use violence and intimidation to achieve their aims,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “The United States remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to undermine the rights of the Georgian people.”
The protests in question were held against a law called “On Transparency of Foregn Influence” which would require NGOs and media organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
The. Chief of the Special Task department of the Georgian government, Zviad Kharazishvili and his deputy Mileri Lagazauri were sanctioned for supressing the protests. Konstantine Morgoshia and Zurab Makharadze of media outletr Alt-Info were sanctioned for inciting violence against the protestors.
The sanctions prohibit US citizens from transactions involving the property of the blocked persons.
