Ruling party leader Kirtskhalia claims Ivanishvili faced coordinated ‘pressure attempts’ abroad

The leader of Georgia’s parliamentary majority, Irakli Kirtskhalia, on Monday said every international legal dispute involving ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili has resulted in rulings in the former Prime minister’s favour, accusing what he described as “foreign agents” of attempting to pressure Ivanishvili and his family through financial leverage.

Speaking at a briefing at the party’s central office, Kirtskhalia claimed that groups outside Georgia believed they could “blackmail” Ivanishvili with property or financial sanctions, but “did not understand what kind of outstanding leader they were dealing with”.

According to him, all legal processes conducted “objectively and lawfully” abroad ended with defeats for the opposing side. He argued that the public clearly sees “where Ivanishvili stands and where the country stands.”

Kirtskhalia added that documents reflecting court decisions favourable to Ivanishvili “will not disappear” and that history will recognise his contribution, especially amid what he called a wave of injustice the country has faced since 2022. He also criticised Georgia’s “so-called friends” for issuing “dirty political statements” and attempting to use “leverage” regardless of judicial outcomes in foreign courts.