Czech Republic Imposes New Sanctions on Georgian Officials Over Protest Crackdowns

The Government of the Czech Republic announced a new package of sanctions against five Georgian senior officials: the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Alexander Darakhvelidze, three judges, and a prosecutor. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press service announced this on September 30 on the social network X.

“They are responsible for the brutal crackdowns on peaceful protests in 2024–2025. We support a democratic and free Georgia.”

The list of sanctions included: Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Alexander Darakhvelidze; Judge Koba Chagunava; Judge Nino Galustashvili; Judge Mikheil Djindzholia; Prosecutor Lasha Kotrikadze.

Timeline of Earlier Steps and Subsequent Changes

It is also worth noting that in January 2025, the Czech Republic had already imposed sanctions on three senior Georgian Interior Ministry officials: the head of the Patrol Police Department Vazha Siradze, the head of the Department of Special Assignments Zviad Harazishvili (Khareba) and his deputy Mirza Kezevadze. During the summer, Harazishvili and Kezevadze left their posts, and Siradze headed the police department in Tbilisi.

Various EU countries, including Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Germany, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine, had previously imposed restrictive measures on representatives of Georgia’s political establishment from the Georgian Dream party. Such steps reflect rising international attention to the developments in Georgia and its domestic political trajectory.

After Georgia’s refusal to negotiate EU membership, debates about the future political course and parliamentary elections intensified, and the streets of the country again felt heightened social tension.