Ruling party head: no inconveniences if retired party founder talks with sanctioned Russian oligarch

Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze says that there will be no “inconveniences” if the recent audio recording allegedly between sanctioned Russian oligarch Vladimir Yevtushenkov and Georgian billionaire and founder of the GD Bidzina Ivanishvili about possible business dealings, confirmed authentic. 

 

In the recording released earlier this week by Youtube channel Cyber Kmara, Yevtushenkov, stakeholder of Sistema JSFC who was sanctioned by the UK on April 13, reportedly tells Ivanishvili that his deputy Ali Uzdenov would visit Georgia to discuss “crops.”

 

In a second recording  Ivanishvili allegedly tells the Russian tycoon that he had sent Uzdenov to PM Irakli Garibashvili, while Yevtushenkov requests Ivanishvili to himself meet the man.

 

Kobakhidze said today that when Russians are destroying Ukrainian cities and killing hundreds of People, Kyiv does not suspend trading with Russia and Putin.

 

“It is happening today and no one has said it is immoral, or illegitimate. We also have trade relations with Russia, as well as with Ukraine. Any communication within the framework of this legitimate relationship can be acceptable,” Kobakhidze said.

 

“Suppose the record is authentic. It is about two men who have an old relationship. This conversation is very short and refers to a trade initiative. We have legitimate, permissible trade relations with Russia, just as Ukraine has trade relations with Russia in the gas field. When an old acquaintance calls you and offers you some initiative within the framework of legitimate trade relations and you react to it briefly, there is no scandal in it and therefore the topic was not raised (by the opposition)” Kobakhidze said.

 

He stated that Ivanishvili is no longer in politics and if he re-addressed the Russian oligarch to state officials, there was nothing inconvenient in the action even if the recording turned authentic.