PM Kobakhidze alleges international plot to assassinate Bidzina Ivanishvili

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday addressed concerns about an alleged plot to murder Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of Georgia’s ruling party. 

Kobakhidze emphasized both the international and local contexts of this purported plan, drawing parallels to recent assassination attempts in Slovakia and the US.

“There is an international context and a local context,” Kobakhidze said. “Considering these contexts, it should not surprise anyone that such plans are being formed. We’ve seen terrorist acts and assassination attempts in Slovakia and the US with similar patterns, indicating that these forces operate in various countries globally and possess the resources to execute such acts.”

Regarding the local context, Kobakhidze implicated the United National Movement opposition, in power between 2004-2012,  saying, “The National Movement is capable of such actions. During their time in power, they committed numerous murders, killing young people on the streets. Therefore, no one should be surprised that they might conceive and prepare such crimes. The investigation will determine the rest.”

When asked why Ivanishvili could be targeted, Kobakhidze responded, “He is the main guarantor of peace and stable development in the country. It is logical that he was the primary target of these plans. A few months ago, a European Commissioner warned us about the risks of murder, referencing a phone call that highlighted the dangers.”European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi in May accusations by  Kobakhidze, who claimed one of the EU Commissioners had “threatened” him during a phone call, reminding him of the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and telling him to be careful. 

Kobakhidze also mentioned the ongoing war in Ukraine as a factor contributing to the risks. “As long as the war in Ukraine continues, these risks will remain acute in our country. We are hopeful that the war will end within a year, which will lead to a reduction in these risks and a change in regional dynamics,” he told the Government-lined Imedi TV.