Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has called on the European Union to step up pressure on the authorities in Georgia through sanctions and political isolation.
“We see that situation is further deteriorating. Our lack of action also put additional stimulus into it,” Budrys told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Tuesday. “That’s why we have to react now and we have to prepare further sanctions for everyone who has been involved in the efforts to put the political opposition leaders into prison.”
He argued that legal cases brought against opposition leaders in Georgia were “absolutely unacceptable”.
“We have to react with sanctions, with further pressure on the regime, with political isolation. Also, with the increased support for civil society,” Lithuania’s foreign minister said.
Almost all opposition leaders, several journalists and activists have been detained since the ruling Georgian Dream party won last year’s general election, drawing criticism from Western countries.
A country with EU candidate status, Georgia has been plagued by political unrest and mass protests since the parliamentary election that the opposition disputed.
Tensions increased further in November when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that he was suspending EU membership negotiations until 2028.
Tbilisi has been criticised in recent years for rapprochement with Moscow.
The opposition in Georgia also does not recognise the election of incumbent President Mikheil Kavelashvili, who was appointed by an electoral college composed exclusively of representatives of the ruling party.
Lithuania has more than 100 people on the list of sanctioned Georgians. These people have been sanctioned for gross and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and repression of the people of Georgia.
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