Georgia strikes back at Baltic sanctions
20 December 2024
After Lithuania and Estonia sanctioned 17 more Georgian officials on Sunday – following a first round of sanctions earlier this month – due to the security forces’ suppression of protests in Tbilisi, Georgia's government has fired back, accusing the Baltic states of having "limited sovereignty" and a "soviet mentality."While they don’t plan to take steps to reciprocate the Baltic sanctions, this diplomatic clash reveals the complex legacy of Soviet history in Eastern Europe. While Lithuania and Estonia have been EU members since 2004, Georgia's ruling party faces accusations of democratic backsliding and growing Russian influence as it delays EU accession talks, despite 80% public support for membership.
 | Gerda Krivaite This highlights how Soviet-era rhetoric can be weaponised to deflect criticism of authoritarian actions. As pressure mounts for EU-wide sanctions against Georgian officials, this clash highlights the widening gulf between the Baltic states' successful democratic transition and the South Caucasus's more complex path to European integration. |
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