US will prohibit visas for Georgian officials for 'undermining democracy'

WASHINGTON - The U.S. will prohibit the issuing of visas for about 20 people responsible for "undermining democracy in Georgia," including government ministers, parliament members and security officials, the State Department said on Thursday.

The department's statement did not name the people who would be prohibited from receiving U.S. visas.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Georgia since nightly protests broke out almost two weeks ago against a decision by the ruling Georgian Dream party to delay the former Soviet republic's longstanding goal of joining the European Union.

"The United States strongly condemns the Georgian Dream party's ongoing, brutal, and unjustified violence against Georgian citizens, including protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures," the State Department said.

It added the department was "preparing additional actions, including sanctions, to hold to account those who undermine democracy in Georgia."

(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Eric Beech; Editing by Sandra Maler)