Ruling party head: imposing sanctions on Ivanishvili equal to sanction Georgian people

Imposing sanctions on the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Bidzina Ivanishvili is equal to impose sanctions on the people of Georgian and all charity projects which have been carried out by [Ivanishvili’s] Cartu foundation for years, head of the GD Irakli Kobakhidze said on Monday in response to the recent European Parliament (EP) resolution calling for sanctions against “oligarch Ivanishvili who has connections with the Kremlin.”

Kobakhidze once again pointed at the “destructive Georgian opposition”  behind the resolution, stating that the opposition had the “same hysteria” over Ivanishvili as they had back in 2011 when the latter decided to enter politics and defeat the United National Movement (UNM).

He also suggested that “as soon as the war in Ukraine is over,” wording towards Georgia would be changed. 

 “As long as the war in Ukraine continues, we will have these kinds of small inconveniences with our partners. However, as soon as the war in Ukraine is over, I am sure everyone will appreciate that we [the Georgian Dream authorities] defended the country’s interests and refused to give it up for destruction,” Kobakhidze said on TV Imedi live.

Kobakhidze criticized the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili for telling the names of former, imprisoned President Mikheil Saakashvili, jailed head of the opposition-minded Mtavari channel Nika Gvaramia and Ivanishvili “in one and the same context.”

Zourabichvili said in her comments over the EP resolution that “neither Saakashvili, Gvaramia or Bidzina Ivanishvili are worth enough to sacrifice the country’s future.”

“When she [Zourabichvili] mentioned the names in the same context, it is hard to even give the move any assessment. Considering the wording, her [the president’s] evaluations over the EU are becoming absolutely irrelevant,” Kobakhidze said.

EP adopted a resolution over Georgia last week, expressing its concern over media freedom and security of journalists in the country, calling for sanctions on Ivanishvili for his “destructive role on Georgia’s political and economic life,” and the transfer of Saakashvili abroad for treatment.