Estonian formin welcomes US decision to impose sanctions on Ivanishvili

TALLINN - Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna welcomed the decision by the United States on Friday to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, former prime minister of Georgia and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

"Estonia imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili as early as Dec. 2," Tsahkna noted. "Ivanishvili is considered the key architect of the Georgian ruling party's policies and is therefore responsible for repressive actions against pro-Western individuals and for steering the country away from its democratic path."

The foreign minister said that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were the first to sanction Georgian officials involved in severe human rights violations, including violently suppressing legitimate protests in Georgia.

"It is encouraging to see that events in Georgia remain under international scrutiny and that other countries are also working on imposing sanctions," Tsahkna said.

Estonia has currently imposed travel bans on 28 Georgian officials.

"We are closely monitoring developments in Georgia and support EU restrictive measures against all those responsible for human rights violations in the country," the foreign minister stated.