EU Fails to Sanction Georgian Leaders Over Protest Crackdown Due to Hungarian and Slovakian Vetoes

Diplomatic tensions rise as the EU imposes limited visa restrictions while individual states and the US expand sanctions against Georgian officials.

Hungary and Slovakia blocked EU-wide sanctions targeting Georgian officials accused of police violence against protesters and opposition leaders.
The EU instead agreed to stricter visa rules for Georgian diplomats, with further measures requiring only a majority vote under consideration by year-end.
The US announced plans to expand sanctions, citing concerns over democratic backsliding, following recent visa bans on 20 Georgian officials.
Baltic states, including Lithuania and Estonia, independently imposed sanctions on Georgian leaders, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidse, for suppressing protests.
Protests in Georgia have persisted for weeks, fueled by allegations of election fraud and concerns over the government’s perceived shift toward Russia and away from the EU.