Poland sanctions eight Georgian officials for violence against protesters

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Poland has introduced an entry ban on eight representatives of the Georgian authorities who it says are “responsible for violence against protesters”.

The protests erupted following parliamentary elections in Georgia in October last year, the results of which were contested by opposition parties, civil society, and parts of the diaspora. The crisis further intensified when the government suspended Georgia’s accession process to the European Union.

“In response to the intensifying repression against the opposition in Georgia, Poland has banned eight representatives of law enforcement agencies responsible for using violence against protesters from entering its territory,” wrote Poland’s foreign ministry on Thursday.

“Poland will support the pro-European aspirations of Georgian society,” they added.

The ban concerns mainly officials linked to the Georgian interior ministry, foreign ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński told the Polish Press Agency (PAP). He did not, however, specify the names of those subject to sanctions.

Widespread and large-scale protests have continued in Georgia since the elections, involving demonstrations, sit-ins and strikes. The participants demand new elections, the release of detained protesters, and a return to a pro-EU policy.

In December 2024, the Georgian parliament passed a package of laws targeting the opposition and civil society by criminalising even symbolic acts of opposition, such as placing stickers on public property.

Police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and water cannons against protesters and journalists. Over 500 people have been detained, according to Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

In November last year, France, Germany and Poland issued a joint statement expressing concern at the conduct of the elections in Georgia and calling for irregularities to be investigated.

In December, Polish President Andrzej Duda talked with his Georgian counterpart, Salome Zourabichvili, whose position is disputed and who has repeatedly called for new parliamentary elections. Duda assured her of his “unwavering support for her leadership and the European aspirations of the Georgian people”.

Poland is also home to a large Georgian diaspora. Figures from Eurostat show that, in every year since 2018, more Georgians have been granted a first residence permit in Poland than in any other EU country.

They now make up the third-largest national group of foreigners registered in Poland’s health and social insurance system, behind only Ukrainians and Belarusians.

Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.

Main image credit: Ramaz Bluashvili / Pexels

Agata Pyka

Agata Pyka is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland. She is a journalist and a political communication student at the University of Amsterdam. She specialises in Polish and European politics as well as investigative journalism and has previously written for Euractiv and The European Correspondent.