The sanctioned leadership of the Georgian Interior Ministry was awarded the Order of Honor

President Mikhail Kavelashvili awarded the Order of Honor to the heads of the Georgian Interior Ministry, who were under Western sanctions for brutal suppression of protest actions. This is reported by the press service of the government administration.

Although the names of those presented to the order are not given, judging by the photo, the awards went to Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, deputy chief of the Georgian special forces Mirza Kezevadze, and patrol police chief Vazha Siradze.  

"Mikhail Kavelashvili awarded them for their special contribution to strengthening law and order," the government said.

The award ceremony was held at the Orbeliani Palace, which Kavelashvili, elected by Georgian Dream MPs, occupied after his inauguration on December 30. The event was attended by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

On December 19, the U.S. and Britain, in coordination, imposed sanctions against Gomelauri and several other high-ranking security officials named as responsible for violence against protesters, journalists and opposition figures. 

Hours later, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze appointed Gomelauri as deputy prime minister. At the same time, he promised that the new president would soon present Gomelauri and other sanctioned police officers to the Order of Honor. Kobakhidze guaranteed that the state would compensate them for all financial losses due to sanctions.

Currently, the Baltic States, the Czech Republic and Ukraine have also invoked sanctions against the Georgian Interior Ministry leadership. 

Reprinted from newsgeorgia.ge