Prepared by Messenger Staff
Latvia Bans Entry to 55 More Georgian Citizens
Latvia has imposed entry bans on 55 additional Georgian citizens, Foreign Minister Baiba Braze announced on Sunday.
"I have included 55 Georgian citizens on Latvia's persona non grata list, imposing a ban on their entry into Latvia. This decision was made in accordance with Section 61(2) of the Immigration Law," Braze said in a statement posted on social media. The identities of those affected have not been made public.
Latvia's move follows similar actions taken by neighboring Baltic states. Lithuania and Estonia have already imposed sanctions targeting a broad group of Georgian individuals. These measures come as the European Union continues to face internal disagreement over a collective response, with any EU-wide sanctions requiring unanimous approval from all member states.
On April 15, Lithuania released a list of 102 sanctioned individuals. The list included senior members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, members of parliament, officials from the Interior Ministry, and judges.
Latvia has not specified whether its list overlaps with Lithuania's or includes new names.
Public Defender Responds to Deadly Building Collapse in Tbilisi
The Public Defender of Georgia has issued a statement in response to the building collapse on Tevdore Mgvdeli Street in Tbilisi, offering condolences to the victims and expressing sympathy to the families and relatives of those who died.
In the statement, the Public Defender's office noted that residents of hazardous buildings have repeatedly contacted the institution over the years, raising concerns about their right to live in a safe environment.
"Despite the existence of regulations for the replacement of hazardous multi-apartment residential buildings within the territory of Tbilisi Municipality, many families have been forced to live in dangerous conditions for years," the office said. "It should be emphasized that such hazardous buildings pose risks not only to residents but also to citizens who may move or work nearby."
The statement added that the systemic nature of the issue requires timely and effective action that existing legislation and municipal programs have so far failed to deliver.
"Cases studied over the years clearly show that addressing this systemic problem requires timely and effective measures, which current legislative guarantees and programmatic capacities fail to ensure," it said.
The Public Defender's office announced it has opened an inquiry into the Tevdore Mgvdeli Street incident. The investigation will examine whether the state and municipal authorities have fulfilled their obligations to ensure safe living conditions for residents of hazardous buildings and others who may be affected.
"The Public Defender's office has initiated an inquiry into the incident on Tevdore Mgvdeli Street and will examine issues concerning the right of residents of hazardous buildings and other citizens to live in a safe environment, as well as the measures taken or to be taken by responsible authorities," the statement reads.
