The British Embassy in Georgia has responded to London’s new sanctions against Russian intelligence services, underlining the growing threat posed by Moscow not only in Ukraine but across Europe. According to the statement, the restrictions imposed on more than 20 Russian agents, hackers, and organizations relate to “an ongoing campaign of cyberattacks and disinformation” that threatens European stability.
The embassy recalls that Russia has already had an impact on Georgia, in particular with the attempted “devastating” cyberattack in 2019. In response, in 2020, Britain and its partners officially confirmed that the attack was organized by Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.
At the same time, the British side openly criticizes the current Georgian government’s position, stating that “the Georgian Dream has recently moved away from the Euro-Atlantic path,” which further exacerbates the country’s vulnerability to Russian cyberattacks.
“Britain and Georgia have worked together on cyber resilience, but now, as the Georgian government weakens ties with Western partners, Russia continues to threaten the country’s security, including in the digital arena,” the statement said.
According to the British Foreign Office, three GRU units and 18 officers have been sanctioned, whom London accuses of being involved in both the strikes on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
