According to Irakli Pavlenishvili, Deputy Secretary General of Unity – National Movement, individuals responsible for undermining democracy must understand that they will not be able to evade sanctions.

Pavlenishvili commented on the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, stating that torture and inhuman treatment were the reasons behind them.

“Inhuman treatment, torture, and the undermining of democracy are legitimate grounds for sanctioning individuals involved in these processes. When we talk about members of Ivanishvili’s so-called power structures, we’re referring to those who are both the organizers and direct executors of all this. Naturally, they are being sanctioned by the Western world, including the United Kingdom. Yes, they must know that they will not be able to avoid these sanctions, and those who help them evade sanctions will also be sanctioned. This is the result of their attempt to establish a dictatorship in Georgia,” Pavlenishvili stated.

He further noted that everyone saw the evidence of people being tortured in the streets, treated inhumanely, and detained without cause.

“When you undermine democracy, when you are systematically involved in torture and inhuman treatment, in the eyes of the Western world this becomes a legitimate reason for sanctions,” Pavlenishvili added.

For context, the United Kingdom government, under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, has sanctioned four individuals. According to the UK government, the sanctions package targets Georgian officials responsible for serious human rights violations under the 2020 Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations.

The sanctions were imposed on Prosecutor General Giorgi Gabitashvili, Deputy Interior Minister Shalva Bedoidze, Deputy Director of the Special Tasks Department Mirza Kezevadze, and Head of the Special Investigation Service Karlo Katsitadze. The sanctions include asset freezes, director disqualification sanctions, and travel bans.