**UK Imposes Sanctions on Five Senior Georgian Officials**
The UK has imposed sanctions on five senior Georgian officials for their role in a crackdown on peaceful protesters and opposition figures. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.
Those targeted by the sanctions are:
* Vakhtang Gomelauri, Georgia‘s Minister of Internal Affairs
* Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs
* Sulkhan Tamazashvili, Director of Tbilisi Police Department
* Zviad Kharazishvili, Director of the Special Task Department (already under US sanctions)
* Mileri Lagazauri, Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department
The UK Foreign Secretary said that the violence inflicted upon protesters and journalists was an attack on democracy and human rights.
**Background**
The sanctions come after a decision to suspend cooperation with the Georgian Dream government. The government has been accused of rigging elections and undermining democratic processes.
In November, mass protests broke out in Georgia following the announcement of halting EU accession negotiations. The protests were met with police brutality, including excessive force and illegal detentions.
**International Response**
International partners have condemned the Georgian Dream’s actions. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and the US have imposed sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights violations during recent protests.
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