The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official statement regarding the summoning of British Ambassador Gareth Ward.

According to the Ministry, the UK’s decision to include Georgian TV companies Imedi and PosTV in its sanctions package against Russia is groundless and constitutes a direct attack on Georgian society.

“On February 26, 2026, the British Ambassador to Georgia, Gareth Ward, was summoned to a meeting with the Georgian Foreign Minister concerning the inclusion of Imedi and PosTV in the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom authorities against Russia,” the statement reads.

The Ministry noted that Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili requested the ambassador to clarify what information formed the basis of this decision, which was allegedly provided to London from Tbilisi.

“It was emphasized that the UK’s decision is groundless and represents a blatant attack on Georgian society. Minister Botchorishvili highlighted the importance of presenting the relevant materials. She stressed that imposing sanctions on Georgian citizens or legal entities undermines the partnership between Georgia and the UK and does not serve the stated objectives of the sanctions packages. The Minister also noted that the sanctioning of Georgian TV companies constitutes an attack on media freedom, which is unacceptable in Georgia, where media outlets operate freely. Both sides underlined the importance of continuing constructive dialogue on matters relating to Georgia–UK relations,” the statement concluded.