On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated two officials in Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs responsible for the violent response against protestors in Georgia, including journalists and opposition figures. According to OFAC, mass protests erupted across Georgia. in late November 2024, when the Prime Minister announced his intention to suspend talks on the possible accession to the European Union. Police in the Special Task Department allegedly engaged in mass beatings, verbal abuse and threats of sexual violence against individuals in police custody. OFAC also reported that the Special Task Department deliberately targeted journalists who reported on the violence. In protests that occurred prior to May 2024 concerning the passage of the “foreign influence law,” police from the same Department allegedly targeted opposition leaders, journalists and youth activists with violence while they engaged in peaceful demonstrations in Georgia.
OFAC designated Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Special Task Department’s Minister of Internal Affairs, and Mirza Kazavadze, the Department’s Deputy Head. The 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. In addition, 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.
This action was taken in coordination with the United Kingdom, which sanctioned five Georgian senior officials in response to the violent attacks against journalists and peaceful protestors. The UK government announced that its designations followed the government’s decision last week to suspend support to Georgian government programs, restrict defense cooperation, and limited their engagement with representatives of the Georgian Dream government. The United Kingdom joined the United States in designating the Special Tasks Department’s Minister of Internal Affairs and its Deputy Head. The UK additionally designated the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, the Special Tasks Department Chief and the Tbilisi Police Department Director. These designations were imposed pursuant to the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020, which subjects designees to assets freezes in the United Kingdom.
U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release | UK Government Press Release | OFSI Financial Sanctions Notice – Global Human Rights