Kobakhidze described the sanctions imposed on him and 19 other individuals accused of opposing Georgia’s European integration as “an echo of the difficult situation in which the government of Ukraine finds itself.” These remarks were reported by News Georgia and other Georgian media outlets.
The Prime Minister also stated that his government would continue a policy of “unilateral friendship” with Ukraine. Referring to the expulsion of Georgia’s ambassador, he said:
“A man who has never left Kyiv since the beginning of the war was expelled because, in Georgia, ‘Russia killed Saakashvili with our hands.’ You can assess all this yourselves. Today, the situation of the Ukrainian government is even worse. This decision [the sanctions] is an echo of this difficult situation.”
This year, Georgian authorities have passed several controversial laws resembling Russian policies, including those on foreign agents and restrictions on LGBTQ rights. Following parliamentary elections marred by allegations of violations, the ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner.
The European Union criticised the elections and called for re-elections. In response, Tbilisi suspended negotiations with Brussels on EU membership until 2026. These developments sparked mass protests in Georgia, leading to clashes with police, arrests, and investigations targeting opposition figures.
Yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to impose sanctions on Georgian politicians steering the country closer to Russia. Today, he signed a decree formalising these sanctions.