Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the evidence used by the US in its designation of Bidzina Ivanishvili; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of applying sanctions on people linked to the repression of (a) civil society, (b) independent media and (c) political oppression in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains resolute in our support for civil society, independent media and democratic freedoms in Georgia. Legislation introduced by the Georgian Government over recent years continues to target non-governmental organisations, opposition leaders and independent voices. We are monitoring developments closely and working with international partners. The UK has imposed targeted sanctions on senior Interior Ministry figures responsible for violent attacks on protesters, judges for abusing their positions, and high-ranking officials for enabling serious human rights violations. I cannot comment on potential future sanctions designations, as doing so could undermine their effectiveness.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will increase stockpiles of the component parts of the D5 Trident II.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Enabled by the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement, as amended for Trident in 1982, the United Kingdom buys title to an agreed number of a shared stock of Trident II D5 missiles from the United States of America (US). These missiles are maintained at the Kings Bay Submarine Base, Georgia.
The UK is working with US partners to extend the life and replenish the Trident II D5 missiles to meet the future programme requirements of both Nations. These life extension programmes will provide sufficient missile packages, including spares, to support the UK’s requirement.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Georgia’s latest legislative reforms for its Euro-Atlantic integration.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she received on 20 January in response to Questions 104701-02.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support civil society organisations in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she received on 20 January in response to Questions 104701-02.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the political situation in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Democracy in Georgia is under threat, and we are working closely with our European allies to respond to that concern.
Last October, I reiterated my concerns to Georgian Foreign Minister Botchorishvili over democratic backsliding, opposition arrests and attacks on allied Ambassadors.
We urge Georgia’s leadership to reverse repressive legislation, release political prisoners, and return the country to a democratic path.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding her Department (a) has provided to support democratic governance in Georgia in each of the last three financial years, and (b) plans to spend in the financial year 2026/27.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922, and I can confirm that in December 2024, the UK suspended all programme support to the Georgian government.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of democratic situation in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922, and I can confirm that in December 2024, the UK suspended all programme support to the Georgian government.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to sanction senior Georgian officials under the Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 following reports that the government of Georgia used prohibited chemical substances to disperse protests in November and December 2024.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We urge the Georgian Government to publish the findings of the investigation it claims to have carried out into these allegations, and we continue to call on them to uphold the right to freedom of assembly and hold to account those responsible for excessive violence against protestors.
Asked by: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they plan to take following reports that the government of Georgia used prohibited chemical substances to disperse protests in November and December 2024.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We urge the Georgian Government to publish the findings of the investigation it claims to have carried out into these allegations, and we continue to call on them to uphold the right to freedom of assembly and hold to account those responsible for excessive violence against protestors.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Ministers are considering sanctions against high ranking Georgian officials under the Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the response given on 8 December 2025 to question 96635. We do not comment on potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.