The U.K. has sanctioned four Georgians—including the brother-in-law of Tbilisi’s mayor—for “legitimising Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory” after they met with the head of a Russian-backed separatist republic.
The designations are part of a broader British sanctions package announced in response to intensifying Russian drone strikes against Ukraine in September. According to a press release Thursday, the wider measures target Russia’s “shadow fleet,” Kremlin propagandists, and individuals allegedly involved in human rights abuses against Ukrainian civilians.
“The U.K. will not flinch in our support for Ukraine,” said Europe Minister Lord Wood of Anfield.
The U.K. sanctions notice states the four men “joined a delegation of Georgian politicians who met with the head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and subsequently publicised the visit.” All four now face U.K. asset freezes and travel bans.
The sanctioned delegates include political commentator Paata Abuladze, Mamuka Pipia, leader of the minor Solidarity for Peace party, party member Giorgi Iremadze, and Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, founder of a Georgian Russian-language TV channel.
Separatist leader Denis Pushilin praised the September 2025 meeting on Telegram, referring to the delegation as “likeminded people from Georgia.”
“It was pleasant to hear words of support for our region’s residents from the Georgian guests, who wished for the swift liberation of all the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” he wrote.
According to a video of the meeting, Pipia told Pushilin: “We hope in the very near future the Donetsk People’s Republic will be free.”
Abuladze added: “You won’t be able to show me a single country in the world that is such a small country, yet has endured and is doing whatever it takes to restore diplomatic relations.”
Three of the four delegates have so far responded to the U.K. measures, some using profanity and insults.
Mamuka Pipia told the Georgian TV channel Pirveli that he considered the sanctions a “reward” and that he was “very happy.” Mzhavanadze told his Facebook followers that the decision was “shameful,” and said the U.K. was “afraid that the positions expressed by a person will harm their politics.” Iremadze did not respond to Monitori’s request for comment.
Abuladze also took to Facebook following the news of his designation. “Britain sanctioned me… and congratulated me,” he told his followers, “I am grateful to the British for sanctioning me.”
Contacted by Monitori, he added: “So what? Like I won’t go to Donbas now?”
“I have never been to [Britain] in my life,” he said. “It’s just a formality.”
In his Telegram post, Pushilin referred to Abuladze as a “member” of the ruling Georgian Dream party. While Monitori was unable to verify his formal party membership and he holds no elected office, Abuladze has family ties to an influential Georgian Dream figure: he is the brother-in-law of Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi.
Manana Toqmajishvili, the head of the Tbilisi City Hall Press Service, confirmed to Monitori that Abuladze is Kaladze’s “half-sister’s husband” but that he has “absolutely no connection to Tbilisi City Hall.” She did not comment further.