President Zourabichvili Criticizes Government Over Lavrov's Relatives' Visit and Calls for Sanctions
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, May 22, 2023
Following reports in Georgian media, protests erupted in the capital Tbilisi and the Kakheti region when it was revealed that family members of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, including his daughter Ekaterina Vinokurova, had visited Georgia for the wedding of his son-in-law's brother.
Lavrov's daughter, Ekaterina Vinokurova, who is married to Alexander Vinokourov, has faced sanctions from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, while her businessman husband has been sanctioned by the European Union.
Nineteen individuals participating in the protests were apprehended by the authorities. Sixteen of them were arrested during the rally that took place outside the Kvareli Lake Resort Hotel, the venue where the wedding occurred. Later, in Telavi, the opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria of the Droa party and two members of the United National Movement were arrested.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili stated that the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, had informed her that Lavrov's relatives had departed from the country, However, no specific information regarding their arrival and departure dates was provided.
During the briefing, Zourabichvili expressed strong disapproval of granting entry to sanctioned individuals, particularly those closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is internationally recognized as a war criminal. She called upon the Georgian government to obtain the lists of sanctioned individuals from Georgia's international partners and take appropriate actions based on that information.
Zourabichvili questioned the government's knowledge and implied that they should have been aware of the entry of sanctioned individuals, especially those who are closely connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her rhetorical question, "How did we not know who entered?", suggested her disbelief and criticism towards the government's lack of vigilance in monitoring and controlling the entry of such individuals. Zourabichvili's statement highlighted that the government should have had information about such individuals entering the country. She emphasized the Georgian Dream party's responsibility to protect the country, particularly considering its geopolitical situation, and expressed disappointment in the lack of adequate measures taken in this regard.
