Zelenskyy imposes sanctions against pro-Russian authorities in Georgia

He stated this in his address.

“I have just signed a decree that enforces the decision of the National Security and Defense Council regarding sanctions. These sanctions target the part of the government in Georgia that is currently handing over Georgia to Putin,” the President said.

The sanctions were imposed on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party, and 19 of his associates.

According to Zelenskyy, if he world fails to respond promptly or take a principled stand, entire decades could be lost, and countries would be deprived of their freedom.

“We cannot afford to lose anyone in this region—neither Georgia, nor Moldova, nor Ukraine. We must defend ourselves against Moscow together. We call on Europe, the U.S., and everyone in the world to do the same—act on principle,” the President added.

The corresponding decree signed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also published on the website of the President's Office. The sanctions will be in place for 10 years.

How a new Revolution is unfolding in Georgia

On October 26, 2024, Georgia held parliamentary elections. The Central Election Commission declared the pro-Russian ruling party "Georgian Dream" as the winner. Shortly after, "Dream" members voted to schedule presidential elections for December 14. The new president’s inauguration is set for December 29, meaning Georgia could enter 2025 with a new leader.

The opposition, President Salome Zourabichvili, and Western countries rejected the election results favoring "Georgian Dream."

Despite this, Ivanishvili's party nominated former footballer Mikhail Kavelashvili, who lacks higher education and has a history of making obscene public statements, as the presidential candidate. Political analysts describe him as Ivanishvili’s “puppet.”

Adding fuel to the fire, the "Dream" party announced on November 28 that they would abandon the country’s European Union integration plans. State media began promoting narratives about returning to Russian language and culture.

This has sparked ongoing protests in major cities, met with brutal crackdowns by police special forces. Demonstrators continue to organize despite the suppression. Protests have been especially intense over the past four days, starting November 28.

Observers warn that Georgia risks sliding into a pro-Russian dictatorship, resembling the Belarusian model.

On the night of December 2, protests escalated in Tbilisi and other cities after authorities announced a suspension of the European integration process until 2028.

Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the opposition Coalition for Change, was detained during a protest in Tbilisi. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a total of 224 detainees.

On the night of December 3, large-scale protests continued in the Georgian capital and other cities. Among the protesters were vocational school students carrying posters with slogans such as “Forward to Europe” and “We choose the European path.”

In Tbilisi, the offices of the Georgian opposition were searched under the charge of organizing group violence. The leader of the Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia, and its member, Gel Hasai, were also detained.