We need to sanction Kremlin-backed oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, - this is how British MP James McCleary responds to the UK government’s imposition of sanctions against four Georgian officials.

“This week I spoke at the Council of Europe about the urgent need for strong sanctions to support pro-democracy campaigners in Georgia. So it is great to see this news from the govt. We still need to go further though and sanction Kremlin-backed oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili”, he wrote on X.

Britain sanctioned four more Georgian officials, including the country's first deputy minister of internal affairs Shalva Bedoidze, for allegedly being responsible for allowing serious human rights violations. According to the information posted on the UK government, this package of sanctions is aimed at Georgian officials responsible for committing serious human rights violations under the 2020 Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulation.