The UK House of Commons held a debate on Georgia, during which Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, addressed questions.

A Member of Parliament raised concerns about alleged human rights abuses: “Last month at the Council of Europe, I met several Georgian opposition members. They showed me graphic evidence of the brutal physical abuse meted out at the hand of the hands of the Georgian regime before, during, and since the recent parliamentary elections. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Putin-backed oligarch and de-facto ruler of Georgia, continues to suppress peaceful processes using an identical modus operandi that is used in Russia. Violence and intimidation are distorting the political process. The United States has imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili, but much of Ivanishvili’s wealth is based in the UK or British Overseas Territories. Will the Minister commit to the UK joining our allies and freezing the assets of such a despicable tyrant?”

Stephen Doughty condemned the violence against peaceful protesters and journalists.

“The question of Georgia. I have significant concerns about the Georgian authorities’ violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and, indeed, journalists.

It’s completely unacceptable. And in response, we have suspended programme support to the Georgian government, we’ve restricted defence cooperation and we’ve limited engagement with Georgian Dream. We’ve imposed visa bans and sanctions on some of those responsible for the violence, and we continue to work with international partners to support free and open civil society and media in Georgia,” he stated.

Doughty emphasized the UK’s coordination with international partners.

“Can I first thank him and his fellow members of the PACE delegation for the important work they’re doing, including on this issue of Georgia? It’s hugely important that we stand together with fellow Europeans in the Council of Europe on these matters. In coordination with the US, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions, as I said, against the Minister and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and three police chiefs responsible for violent attacks against journalists and peaceful protesters in Georgia.

He will understand that while we continue to closely monitor the evolving situation in Georgia, we do not comment on potential future sanctions designations as to do so would lessen their impact,” he said.