UK MP James MacCleary condemns Georgian opposition leader Vashadze's arrest, calls for sanctions

British Member of Parliament James MacCleary has publicly condemned the arrest of Georgian opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze, calling for immediate international action and sanctions against Georgia’s ruling elite.

In a post on X, MacCleary wrote:
“As a UK MP I condemn the jailing of my friend Giorgi Vashadze. I was due to meet him next week. I’ll be writing to the Foreign Secretary demanding immediate action. All political prisoners in Georgia must be released – the UK must sanction Ivanishvili and his corrupt government now.”

MacCleary's statement comes amid mounting international criticism of Georgia’s government for its crackdown on opposition figures and civil society. Vashadze, a prominent opposition politician and leader of the “Strategy Aghmashenebeli” party, was arrested under charges widely viewed as politically motivated.

The call for sanctions on billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili—seen by critics as the de facto ruler of Georgia—reflects growing frustration in Western capitals over what they describe as the country’s backsliding on democratic principles.