Fitzo calls possible imposition of EU sanctions against Georgia a red line

The possible introduction of sanctions against Tbilisi by the European Union (EU) would be a red line for Bratislava. This was stated by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo on December 16 following a telephone conversation with European Council President António Costa.

"We call for an objective assessment of the current situation in Georgia. Any consideration of the possibility of interfering in Georgia's internal affairs by imposing sanctions is a red line for us," Fitzo said, his words quoted by Slovak news portal Pravda.

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The day before, on December 15, Polskie Radio reported that the EU plans to impose sanctions on 16 citizens of Georgia, Moldova and Russia in connection with "hybrid actions." These people will be banned from entering the EU and will have their assets frozen in Europe.

On the same day, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said that this Baltic republic together with Estonia imposes sanctions on 17 politicians of Georgia, including its Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The reason for this decision, as the ministry pointed out, was the suppression of protests in Tbilisi. The Georgian government, commenting on the restrictions, refused to impose retaliatory sanctions against Estonia and Lithuania, not wanting to spoil good relations with the peoples of the two republics.

Before that, on December 14, Georgian presidential candidate from the Georgian Dream party Mikhail Kavelashvili won the required 200 votes in the presidential election, where for the first time in Georgia's history, the electoral college, rather than citizens, voted for a candidate for the post of head of state. The session began at 09:00 (08:00 Moscow time) and lasted until 14:00 (13:00 Moscow time). The collegium consisted of 300 people, 211 of them were members of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Meanwhile, protests continue in Georgia over the suspension of negotiations on European integration and the opposition's disagreement with the results of parliamentary elections. Protesters tried to set fire to the Georgian parliament building and damaged dozens of offices, while law enforcement agencies had to use tear gas.