High-ranking police officials in Georgia have been given a top honor by President Mikheil Kavelashvili. The award, called the Order of Honor, was given out at the Orbeliani Palace on January 30.
The president said that these officials had made a “special contribution” to keeping law and order. But many of them are already under Western sanctions for their actions.
Some of the people who got awards have been accused of using violence against protesters. The US, UK, and Baltic states have all imposed sanctions on some of these officials.
The ceremony was attended by the prime minister and speaker of parliament. But not everyone was happy with the awards. President Salome Zurabishvili said that it was like “decorating” people who are responsible for violence and torture.
Just a day before, the Czech Republic had imposed entry bans on three Georgian officials who were awarded honors. These sanctions come as the US has also punished some of these officials for their actions against protesters.
Some of the people who got awards have been accused of using torture, verbal abuse, and threats of sexual violence against protesters. The US has said that it will not let them enter the country because of these actions.
The government‘s press release mentioned that many high-ranking police officials were awarded honors at this ceremony. But human rights groups have spoken out against the government’s response to protests in Georgia.
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