U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Georgian Billionaire Ivanishvili, Accusing Him of Undermining Democracy and Aiding Russia
The U.S. has slapped sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgia‘s ruling party "Georgian Dream" and the country’s de facto leader, accusing him of eroding democracy and benefiting Russia, reported Reuters. Ivanishvili, who amassed his fortune in the metallurgy and telecommunications sectors in Russia in the 1990s, is seen as the mastermind behind Georgia’s shift away from the West and has blamed foreign intelligence services for attempting to push the country into war with Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the penalties, stating that Ivanishvili’s actions "undermine democratic processes or institutions" in the U.S. or abroad, specifically benefiting the Russian Federation. The sanctions freeze all of Ivanishvili’s U.S.-based assets.
Gruzian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili dismissed the sanctions as "blackmail" and retorted that they were Ivanishvili’s "price" for preventing war in Georgia. Garibashvili echoed Ivanishvili’s claims of covert U.S. sanctions against him, a claim Washington denies.
Ivanishvili’s party, "Georgian Dream," claims to support a pro-Western Georgia while maintaining ties with Russia. However, its decision to delay EU integration talks until 2028 has sparked protests that have been ongoing since November, resulting in over 400 arrests, including opposition politicians.
Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the opposition United National Movement, welcomed the sanctions, saying, "The struggle of the people has brought results. The world is now seeing the protests of the Georgian people, and this is a significant achievement."
The U.S. previously imposed sanctions on several Georgian Interior Ministry officials in December, accusing them of involvement in the crackdown on protesters. Neighboring Baltic states have also imposed sanctions on Georgian officials.
Political turmoil in Georgia began after disputed parliamentary elections in October, with opposition parties and President Salome Zurabishvili challenging the results. Zurabishvili has stated that she will not run for re-election, setting the stage for a potential confrontation when "Georgian Dream" candidate Mikhail Kavelashvili is inaugurated on Sunday.
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