Tazo Datunashvili: Other countries will join Estonia, and the sanctions will only intensify until new elections are scheduled, political prisoners are released, and democracy is back on track

Estonia's sanctions confirm that no one in this country will get away with violence against Georgian citizens — this is how Tazo Datunashvili, a member of "Lelo – For a Strong Georgia," responded to Estonia's decision to revoke the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports.

According to Tazo Datunashvili, the sanctions will only deepen until new elections are scheduled.

"When the government resorts to violence, breaks into activists' homes, terrorizes small children and pregnant women, when we witness the hellish absurdity happening in the cases of political prisoners, when more and more government representatives are engaging in the evil called violence against their own citizens, this will be met with increased reactions from our friends — more sanctions, more support for the Georgian people. Estonia’s sanctions confirm this: no one will get away with violence against Georgian citizens, with undermining our democracy and independence. Georgia and its people are not alone — our friends stand beside us. Other countries will join Estonia. These sanctions will only escalate until new elections are scheduled, political prisoners are released, and democracy returns to its rightful course in this country,” said Tazo Datunashvili.

For context, Estonia has revoked the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted that introducing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports is “another step to show that the international community, including the European Union, does not support the Georgian ruling party ‘Georgian Dream’ in its repression of ordinary people, demonstrators, and journalists, the impunity of the police, and the suppression of civil society.”