Zourabichvili: recent international sanctions, reactions mark ‘major blow’ to Georgian Gov’t

Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zourabichvili, on Thursday described the recent international sanctions and statements against the Georgian government as a “significant setback” for the ruling party.

Speaking at a briefing following a meeting with opposition groups, Zourabichvili said that the previous day’s events were “a very big blow to the regime,” highlighting “five critical developments that had strengthened the opposition’s position.”

The most notable of these, Zourabichvili pointed out, was the first-ever sanctioning of the Georgian judicial system by the United Kingdom. The sanctions on two senior judges targeted individuals responsible for the arrest and imprisonment of “political prisoners”, who have been widely described as prisoners of conscience for standing against the government’s decision late last year to halt the country’s EU integration until 2028.

She emphasized that this move marked an important step toward ensuring justice and accountability.

The former president also highlighted the broader impact of international reactions, citing statements from the European Union, the US State Department, and the Helsinki Commission. These included a joint statement from European leaders Kaia Kallas and Marta Kos, a bipartisan resolution from the Helsinki Commission regarding the Anaklia Port project, and a comment from the US State Department that reminded the Georgian government of the necessary reforms to improve relations with Washington.

“Yesterday was a powerful signal from our international partners,” she said. “This is a long, difficult path, but our coordination and the strong support from the international community are propelling us toward our goal – the new elections and restoring democracy in Georgia”, Zourabichvili claimed.