Overview

• 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.