Baltic states agree to sanction those cracking down on protests in Georgia

VILNIUS - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have agreed to impose national sanctions on those cracking down on protests in Georgia, outgoing Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis announced on Sunday.

"The three Baltic States jointly agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia," Landsbergis posted on the X social media platform.

"Opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries," he added.

The Foreign Ministry told BNS that the sanctions target ten senior officials of Georgia's Interior Ministry.

The move comes after riot police in Tbilisi used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas against protesters, who in turn threw pyrotechnics at officers.

On Sunday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the use of force against the Georgian people and called for a new parliamentary election, echoing the demands of pro-European President Salome Zourabichvili.

Thousands of people gathered in Tbilisi and other cities for rallies after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday the government's decision to delay the country's EU accession bid until 2028.

The prime minister's announcement came in response to a European Parliament resolution refusing to recognize the results of Georgia's October 26 parliamentary election due to alleged "significant irregularities".

The Black Sea nation has faced turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the election, which pro-European opposition groups say was rigged.