“We have to prepare for the sanctions for everyone who was involved in the efforts to put the political opposition leaders into prison,” said Kęstutis Budrys, Foreign Minister of Lithuania, ahead of the EU Foreign Ministerial meeting.
According to the Lithuanian FM, the EU should further pressure the regime, with political isolation, and with increased support for civil society.
“We see that the situation is further deteriorating. Our lack of action also put additional stimulus into it. That’s why we have to react now, and we have to prepare for the sanctions for everyone who was involved in the efforts to put the political opposition leaders into prison. We saw those big cases that were introduced against them. That is absolutely unacceptable. And from our side, we have to react with further sanctions, with further pressure on the regime, with political isolation, also with increased support for civil society.
We still see that the absolute majority of Georgian people want to be part of the European Union. I see in my society that more than 60% of Lithuanian people want Georgia to be part of the European Union, and there are commitments from both sides. So, there are commitments from Georgia to fulfil the human rights standard, and there is a commitment from European nations to support Georgia in its best. So, this is how we should proceed,” he said.
