Opposition leader rules out Anaklia Port or Caspian-Black Sea route ‘under Ivanishvili’

Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, has claimed that no Anaklia port or Caspian-to-Black Sea route will be developed in Georgia “as long as Bidzina Ivanishvili remains politically influential in the country.”

Speaking on the opposition’s stance on Thursday, Gvaramia said, “our position has been clear: while [the ruling party founder and honorary chair Bidzina] Ivanishvili is in power, this will not happen. He has openly stated that Americans have no business on the Black Sea. Therefore, no Anaklia port, no Caspian-to-Black Sea route will be realized under his influence.”

Gvaramia added that the opposition alliance’s current strategy aimed to remove Ivanishvili’s influence from the country. “We have made it clear once again that change is necessary, and as an alliance, we will pursue it through demonstrations and by presenting alternatives,” he said.

The opposition leaders recently met with US State Department officials to discuss the country’s political situation and planned meetings with government representatives.