The United States has imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials for "undermining democracy" amid ongoing popular protests against a move by the ruling Georgian Dream party to delay the Caucasus country's negotiations to join the European Union.
Protesters have also called for fresh elections following allegations of electoral fraud during the October parliamentary poll whose results the opposition has refused to recognize, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power.
Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with the protesters, has said the elections were manipulated with the help of Russia.
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Authorities have responded violently to the latest wave of protests, arresting hundreds of people over the past two weeks.
In response, the U.S. State Department said on December 12 that it will "prohibit visa issuance to those who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Georgia."
The move will affect some 20 individuals, "including individuals serving as government ministers and in Parliament, law enforcement and security officials, and private citizens," it said in a statement, without naming the individuals.
"We are committed to seeing that senior officials responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy will be subject to visa restrictions," the statement said.
Since the start of the protests at the end of November, violence against the opposition and journalists has escalated, drawing condemnation from the United States and the European Union.
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On December 4, Georgian security forces conducted raids on the offices of several opposition parties, protest leaders, and rights activists.
The U.S. statement reiterated that Washington "strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party’s ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures."
In power since 2012, Georgian Dream, the power founded by Russia-friendly billionaire and ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been accused by critics of becoming increasingly more authoritarian.
Earlier this year, Georgian Dream pushed through parliament, which it controlled, a so-called foreign-agent law modeled on a similar Russian piece of legislation used by the Kremlin to stifle political opposition and repress critics.
"Georgian Dream has turned away from Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, which the Georgian people overwhelmingly desire and the Georgian constitution envisions," the U.S. statement said.
Separately, President Emmanuel Macron on December 12 reiterated France's backing for Georgia's EU aspirations and voiced solidarity with protesters.
"I would like to reiterate our full support for Georgia's European path and for the defenders of democracy," Macron said at a press briefing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.
"I would also like to express my deep concern about the repression of young people, the disturbing statements of the head of government and, in essence, the betrayal of the European path so quickly after the elections," Macron said.
On December 11, Macron held an hourlong phone call with Ivanishvili.
The Elysee Palace later said that Macron “demanded the release of all illegally detained people and respect for freedom of expression and assembly."