US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the US Department of State has publicly designated four individuals (Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze) under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities for abusing their positions as court Chairmen and Members of High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public's faith in Georgia's judicial system.

US Ambassador Kelly Degnan followed with a statement, noting that the State Department determined, based on credible and corroborated evidence, that these individuals abused their public positions by engaging in significant corrupt activity. She added that justice is the main principle upholding freedom and democracy, and that US designations are intended to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain, and support hardworking and honest judges in their European aspirations.

U.S. sanctions against four members of Georgia's Supreme Judicial Council reveal the corruption behind the decision. This opinion was expressed by the leader of Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze.

"I have to make a somewhat harsh assessment of these sanctions. I will say directly that this statement is about corruption, and there are corrupt processes behind this statement. By corruption we do not only mean money," he said on the Imedi TV channel.

The fact that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was "smeared with this statement" is particularly outrageous, the politician said.

"It's a very bad sign for the people who bring such information to the Secretary of State," Kobakhidze said.