Estonia’s foreign minister has told DW he wants other European Union member states to impose sanctions on Georgian officials and people linked to the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party, after the EU as a whole failed to agree bloc-wide sanctions.
"We were not able to have a consensus among all the 27 countries. But it happens here in Brussels and the EU. But what I do hope is that all the other countries, they will join the initiative that the Baltic states did," Margus Tsahkna said on Monday.
Estonia and other Baltic countries have already imposed restrictions on dozens of Georgian officials they accuse of orchestrating violence against pro-democratic protesters, including the country’s prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
But EU member Hungary has been a vocal supporter of Georgian Dream and without its backing, the bloc as a whole cannot greenlight EU-wide sanctions.
Tsakhna told DW the EU will advance plans to restrict rights for Georgian diplomatic passport holders. The measure seen as less impactful and less politically contentious than full-blown sanctions, but Tsahkna called it a "signficant step."
"We have not left the Georgian people, who have all the rights to fight for the democratic values," Tsahkna said.
Georgia has been deep in political turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in parliamentary elections in October. Hundreds have been arrested amid protests against the ruling party’s decision to put the country’s goal of joining the EU on hold.
Speaking to DW on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Tsahkna accused Georgian Dream of parroting Russian propaganda.
"We see exactly what kind of Kremlin talking points to the Georgian regime right now is holding. And whoever is supporting, supporting the actually the Kremlin narrative and actions as well. It’s very clear," he said.
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