Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Friday remarked on U.S. State Department’s decision to sanction four Georgian judges, Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze, “for their involvement in corruption.”

“I am not happy and could not be happy with Georgia’s inclusion in the list of countries with sanctioned individuals, as, for me, the country’s reputation needs to be treated with caution.”

According to the President, “Although the decision only applies to visa restrictions for four people, it somewhat damages the country’s image.”

She went on to say, “We must show the world that we deserve a different assessment.”

“Today I met the U.S. ambassador, Madam Kelly Degnan, and shared my feelings with her. Georgia and the Georgian people are well aware of the responsibility of these people in forming a vicious judicial system. We all know and understand what needs to be done to improve this judicial system. Our society knows very well what was not done and why it was not done. That is why we fully understand, share, and support the need for judicial reform.

“I regret that this decision puts the country on the list of other sanctioned countries. This happens when Georgia is waiting for the crucial decision from the European partners over the EU candidate status. I am afraid that the U.S. decision might be perceived in Europe as a negative signal,” she added.