On September 16, 2024, the U.S Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two Georgian officials for their roles in the violent suppression of peaceful protestors and political opponents in May of 2024. OFAC also designated Zurab Makharadze, a media personality, and Konstantine Morgoshia, the founder of media company Alt-Info, for encouraging attacks against marginalized Georgians, journalists, and political opposition leaders.
In May of 2024, Georgian citizens gathered to peacefully protest the passage of a law titled “On Transparency of Foreign Influence,” also known as the “foreign influence law” that, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, would stifle fundamental freedoms in Georgia, including media freedom. Security forces from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs Special Task Department (“Special Task Department”) allegedly attacked protestors and targeted marginalized persons, journalists, and opposition leaders with brutal beatings and verbal attacks. The attacks were allegedly overseen by Zviad Kharazishvili, the Chief of the Special Task Department, and his Deputy, Mileri Lagazauri. During the protest, Morgoshia and Zakharadze allegedly encouraged hundreds of their followers to break into non-governmental organization offices and attack journalists and police officers at the scene.
These designations were imposed pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Right Accountability Act that targets those who engage in serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more designated persons are also blocked, unless they are exempt or authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC.