AKIPRESS.COM - The United States has imposed visa restrictions on 20 Georgian citizens who are "responsible for undermining democracy" in the country, the U.S. Department of State reported. The sanctions affected government ministers, members of parliament, law enforcement and security officials, and private individuals.

"The United States strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party's ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures," the Department said in a statement. It also noted that Georgian Dream has turned away from Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future, which "the Georgian people overwhelmingly desire and the Georgian constitution envisions."

Prior to this, the United States imposed visa restrictions on more than 100 people associated with Georgian Dream party and their family members. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new sanctions against Georgia over the suppression of mass protests a week earlier. He called on the Georgian Dream to stop repressions, detentions and violence against citizens, and to release all those detained at the rallies.

Protests in Georgia began in late October after the parliamentary elections, which were won by the Georgian Dream. The protests intensified after Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on November 28 that the authorities would postpone negotiations on joining the EU until the end of 2028 and that Tbilisi was refusing European financial assistance.

During the protests, there were clashes with the police, who used harsh measures. Security forces conducted searches in the offices of the opposition parties United National Movement, Girchi - More Freedom, Droa and Ahali on December 4.