According to the Lithuania Ministry of Interior, the entry ban against the 11 Georgian officials will remain in place for five years. Since all the Baltic States made this decision together, the targeted individuals will also not be allowed to enter the territory of Estonia and Latvia for the same period of time.

Among the people against which the entry ban will apply is also the founder of the “Georgian Dream”, Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has been highly criticised by the authorities.

Commenting on the current situation in Georgia and on the joint decision taken by the Baltic States, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielias Landsbergis, said that opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcomed in the Baltic States.

Minister of Interior of Lithuania, Agnė Bilotaitė, also shared the same opinion. She said that the violence used against peaceful protesters is inexcusable.

Estonia & Latvia Authorities Also Condemned Violence Against Protesters

The authorities of the other two countries also commented on the matter. Concerned about the situation in Georgia, the Foreign Minister of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, said that Georgian citizens can stand up for their rights.

The Minister further noted that the violence used against the protesters is unacceptable.

A similar statement condemning the violence against protesters in Georgia was also made by the Latvian authorities.

As for the other EU member states, the pressure has been growing on them to follow suit and impose such sanctions, too.

Georgians have been protesting for several days now following the announcement of the government that the EU membership talks would be suspended until 2028. During these protests, around 224 protesters were arrested, and the number has kept on increasing.

In addition, the protesters have also been facing violence, which has been highly condemned not only by the Baltic States but also by other member countries.