UK Sanctions Six Georgia-Linked Figures Over Russia Ties
By Messenger Staff
Friday, October 2, 2026
The United Kingdom has sanctioned six Georgia-linked figures, including the former and newly installed de facto leaders of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region, accusing them of supporting Russia or activities that threaten Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Those sanctioned are former de facto leader Alan Gagloev, newly "elected" leader Marat Kambolov, and four Georgian nationals: Solidarity for Peace international secretary Mamuka Pipia, party political council member Giorgi Iremadze, Sezoni TV founder Nikoloz Mzhavanadze and political and military observer Paata Abuladze.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the package targets people involved in what it described as pro-Kremlin disinformation and support for Russian-installed authorities in occupied territories.
The sanctions impose asset freezes, travel bans, trust services restrictions and director disqualification measures. The wider package covers 23 individuals and entities and eight ships.
The UK also sanctioned Sergey Tolmachev, described by the British Embassy in Tbilisi as a regional "deputy governor" of Russia's occupied Sevastopol and Zaporizhzhia.
According to the UK sanctions notice, Gagloev is accused of supporting the Russian government through his work as an adviser to the Russian president. Kambolov was sanctioned over his work at the Russian government-affiliated Kurchatov Institute between 2015 and 2025.
The UK said Pipia led a Georgian delegation that met Denis Pushilin, head of the Russian-installed authorities in occupied Donetsk, and later publicised the visit. It also accused him of promoting Russian disinformation narratives.
Iremadze, Mzhavanadze and Abuladze were also sanctioned over their participation in the meeting. The UK identified Mzhavanadze as the founder of a Georgian Russian-language TV channel and Abuladze as a Georgian political and military observer.
The British Embassy said Russia's occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was part of a broader pattern of disregard for the sovereignty and internationally recognised borders of neighbouring countries.
It also condemned Russia's efforts to consolidate control over Georgia's occupied regions, including the September 18 de facto presidential election in Tskhinvali.
The Solidarity for Peace party has campaigned for restoring diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia, which Tbilisi severed after Russia's August 2008 invasion of Georgia.
