UK summons Georgian diplomat over crackdown on critical voices

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LONDON (Reuters) -The British government summoned the Georgian Charge d’Affaires on Monday over what it called the ruling Georgian Dream party’s crackdown on civil society, independent media and critical voices in Georgia.

“The imprisonment of prominent opposition leaders is the latest attempt by the Georgian government to crack down on freedoms and stifle dissent,” the government’s Foreign Office said in a statement.

“The UK Government will not hesitate to consider further action should Georgia not return to respecting and upholding democracy, freedoms, and human rights.”

Last week, Georgian opposition politician Giorgi Vashadze was sentenced to seven months in prison, the latest in a crackdown that has put nearly all of Georgia’s major opposition figures behind bars.

Authorities there have clamped down on leading figures of the pro-European Union opposition after weathering major protests last year over a disputed October election and a subsequent government decision to halt talks on joining the EU.

The Georgian Dream party, which won a fourth term in power, has rejected allegations of vote-rigging.

(Reporting by Muvija M; Additional reporting by Gursimran Kaur; Editing Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)