Ruling party Sec Gen says UK sanctions part of ongoing blackmail against Georgian Gov’t

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday strongly criticised the United Kingdom’s recent decision to sanction four high-ranking Georgian officials, including the country’s Prosecutor General, calling it a continuation of political blackmail against the Georgian Government.

In his remarks, Kaladze stressed that the Georgian Dream Government would always protect the country's independence and strengthen its sovereignty.

“The blackmail and threats continue as usual. The sanctioning of these individuals by Britain indicates a continuation of blackmail. We act simply - we protect our country and our people, we do not allow anyone to dominate our country, to use Georgia's interests to advance the interests of various large countries, and thereby trample on the interests of our country. That is precisely why they are irritated, but as long as the Georgian Dream is in power, we will always protect the country's independence and strengthen Georgia's sovereignty”, Kaladze said.

The UK government announced sanctions against Georgia's Prosecutor General Giorgi Gabitashvili, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shalva Bedoidze, Deputy Director of the Special Tasks Department Mirza Kezevadze, and Head of the Special Investigation Service Karlo Katsitadze. The grounds for the sanctions state that these individuals are or have been responsible for human rights violations.