Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the envoys of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia over the Baltic states’ recent announcement of sanctions on the Georgian government and law enforcement officials.
As reported by the Estonian daily Postimees, Lithuanian Ambassador Darius Vitkauskas, Estonian Ambassador Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, and Latvian Chargé d’Affaires Lolita Lenkeviča were summoned on Wednesday.
The Georgian ministry said the Baltic governments’ actions were inconsistent with the established framework of partnership between the countries, according to a press release published on its website.
“It was emphasized that Georgia remains committed to international norms and that the state authorities of Georgia act in accordance with the Constitution and international standards to ensure public order and security within the country. This includes law enforcement agencies ensuring the peaceful expression of protests and responding to violations of the legal norms governing the expression of protests,” the statement said.
The Georgian government also noted that it finds unacceptable statements “aimed at influencing the activities of sovereign state institutions” and that this constitutes interference in the country’s internal affairs.
According to the statement, the Georgian ministry also told the Baltic envoys that the government’s decision not to put the issue of EU accession talks on the EU relations agenda until 2028 does not imply that Tbilisi is suspending the European integration process.
“The Georgian government will firmly continue to fulfil the priorities defined by the Constitution of Georgia and the irreversible process of European integration based on the Association Agreement that will ensure better preparedness for swift EU accession negotiations,” the statement said.
The claims that “the Georgian government suspended negotiations with the EU are not true”.
The Lithuanian government announced on Tuesday it was imposing entry bans on 11 politicians and officials “who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia”.
The sanctioned individuals include Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, the interior minister and his deputies, heads of the security forces and police.
The sanctions follow the use of rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas by riot police in Tbilisi against protesters. The demonstrators in turn used pyrotechnics.
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