On October 26, many Georgians went to the polling stations in the hope that they could end twelve years of state capture by Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has subdued almost all state institutions and much of the country’s economy. Instead, the elections, as well as the pre-election period, were marred by fraud, voter intimidation, and manipulation on a scale that shook the nation’s democratic foundations. The systemic nature of these violations served as the primary indication that state institutions, including the Central Election Commission, conspired with Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream political party to flip the election results and remain in power illegitimately. Independent observers documented widespread violations, including ballot stuffing and massive breaches of ballot secrecy. Even U.S. pollsters declared the results announced by the Election Commission statistically implausible.

Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia, embarked on a path to transform Georgia—a country once celebrated for good governance reforms—into a Russian-style kleptocratic authoritarian state after gaining power in 2012. He consolidated power by installing loyal cronies and lubricating the process with massive propaganda and systemic corruption. For most Georgians, Ivanishvili’s true intentions became obvious when he sided with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

President Salome Zourabichvili characterized the October 26 elections as nothing short of a “Russian special operation,” designed to derail Georgia’s aspirations for European integration. Thousands of Georgians took to the streets in protest, demanding new elections under international supervision. Their message was clear: democracy, not kleptocracy; Europe, not Russia.

Russia’s old and newer allies, including Iran, Venezuela, China, and Hungary, quickly embraced the Georgian Dream’s “victory.” Notably, Venezuela and Georgia have no diplomatic relations, as Venezuela’s regime recognized Russian-occupied territories as independent states following the 2008 Russian war against Georgia.

Yet the response from Ivanishvili’s regime has been as brazen as it is unconstitutional. Despite an ongoing legal challenge in the Constitutional Court and a full boycott by the opposition parties, the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament convened on November 25 with only Georgian Dream members present. In an anti-democratic affront, the newly installed, self-proclaimed prime minister announced the suspension of Georgia’s European Union integration process. This move was synchronized and seemingly directed by Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Kremlin talking heads.

This unilateral decision defies the will of the overwhelming majority of Georgians, who have repeatedly expressed their support for Euro-Atlantic integration. It also contravenes Georgia’s constitution, which enshrines the nation’s commitment to European and NATO integration as a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

Unsurprisingly, yet again, the Georgian people erupted in anger. Massive protests swept across the country, fueled by frustration not only with the election’s illegitimacy but also with the government’s betrayal of the nation’s European future. Peaceful demonstrators have been met with extreme police brutality. Like the election rigging, law enforcement’s thuggish brutality appears to have been preorganized, ordered, and directed by top political patrons and security services.

Shocking videos show protesters being beaten, surrounded, and chased into metro stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, offices, and even theater buildings. Journalists—the guardians of public accountability—have been deliberately targeted, further exposing the regime’s disdain for democratic norms.

This violence, however, is backfiring. Far from quelling dissent, it has galvanized a population determined to resist Ivanishvili’s pro-Russian, kleptocratic regime. For Georgians, this is no longer just about rigged elections or police brutality; it is about reclaiming their future as a democratic and European nation.

The international community has taken notice. The U.S. Helsinki Commission’s recent statement condemned the violence and declared Georgia’s de facto government illegitimate. This moral clarity is welcome, but words alone will not suffice.

The U.S. State Department’s suspension of its strategic partnership with Georgia sends a clear signal of disapproval, but it may fall short of fully achieving its intended purpose. Ivanishvili’s regime doesn’t truly care about Georgia’s Western path or its strategic relations with the United States. However, such a decision, without coupling it with measures that impose personal costs on the regime’s cronies, may dishearten the very people risking their lives for democracy and freedom. It sends dubious signals to other freedom-fighting nations and hurts the United States’ reputation and national interests.

What Georgia needs now is targeted action that hits the regime where it hurts most: its financial lifelines. Sanctioning Ivanishvili and his cronies for their blatant human rights abuses, attacks on democracy, and actions against Georgia’s and U.S. interests is not only the right thing to do—it’s also the strategic thing to do. This regime’s survival hinges on corruption and shady financial networks. Financial sanctions, if applied comprehensively, would strike at the heart of its power while signaling unwavering support for the Georgian people.

As protests grow and the regime doubles down on repression, time is of the essence. The United States has long championed democracy and human rights around the world. Georgia’s fight is no different. Standing with the Georgian people at this critical juncture is not just about supporting an ally; it’s about reaffirming the United States’ commitment to the values that define its global leadership.

The Georgian people’s battle is more than a domestic struggle: It is a fight for the soul of the Euro-Atlantic community, a frontline in the global contest between democracy and autocracy, and a battle for the strategic geo-economic interests of the United States and the West. This is a winnable battle, but for it to be won, the United States and its allies must act decisively. Sanctioning Ivanishvili and his cronies would be a powerful first step—one that Georgians desperately need and deserve, and one that could simultaneously undercut the political, military, and economic expansionist appetites of Russia, Iran, China, Venezuela, and others, ones that rushed to recognize illegitimate election results in Georgia.

Amb. Batu Kutelia is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a former Georgian ambassador to the United States.

Amb. Vasil Sikharulidze is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a former Georgian ambassador to the United States.

Image: Mirko Kuzmanovic / Shutterstock.com