UK Sanctions on Georgian TV: Lords Question Treasury on Compliance

Questions regarding the enforcement of UK sanctions against two Georgian television channels, Imedi and POSTV, were raised in the House of Lords on March 2nd, 2026, by Baroness Margaret Patricia Curran, a member of the House of Lords, according to a report by JAMnews.

Curran directed her inquiries to Baron Spencer Elliot Livermore, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, focusing on whether Georgian banking institutions listed on the London Stock Exchange had received specific guidance regarding compliance with the newly imposed sanctions. She also asked whether a meeting was planned in London to address sanctions obligations with the Georgian business community.

The UK imposed sanctions on Imedi and POSTV on February 24th, 2026, as part of a broader sanctions package targeting Russia, according to JAMnews. The measures include restrictions on trust services, asset freezes, and director disqualification, with breaches considered criminal offences.

Livermore responded on March 17th, outlining the responsibilities of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) within HM Treasury for enforcing UK financial sanctions. He stated that OFSI does not typically issue tailored guidance to specific institutions, but instead engages regularly with industry and publishes comprehensive guidance to ensure understanding and effective implementation of sanctions across all sectors, including banking and finance. He affirmed that OFSI would take “appropriate and proportionate enforcement action” in the event of identified breaches.

Regarding direct engagement with Georgian companies, Livermore confirmed that no such meeting is currently planned. He reiterated that all individuals and entities within the United Kingdom, including companies, are required to fully comply with UK financial sanctions, and that OFSI regularly engages with industry and publishes detailed guidance to ensure proper application of the sanctions.

The Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has described the UK’s decision to sanction the pro-government media outlets as “reckless and shameful,” according to JAMnews. He argued that the sanctions amounted to a violation of media freedom but predicted they would have no practical effect, adding that the government would ensure the situation of journalists at the television companies did not worsen.