Sanctioning Ivanishvili means West abandoning Georgia – political expert Zurabishvili

I have no expectations for the founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party and the country’s former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili to be sanctioned. If this happens, it would mean that the West abandoned Georgia and handed the country over to Russia, political analyst Davit Zurabishvili told Front News on Thursday, in comments on the recent document by the USAID which cited Ivanishvili as an informar ruler of the country and “connected with the Kremlin” based on the information had provided by Transparency International Georgia. 

In his remarks, the expert said that Georgia should choose a side amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. 

“Practically, after the current war in Ukraine, we are entering a new Cold War era. On the one hand, Russia and on the other hand, the West. It is impossible for a small country like us, which is a neighbor of Russia, to maintain a balance with both powers. It will not work, you have to choose a side. This does not mean that you want to engage in military action or war, but you must have a clear position about who you stand for”, Zurabishvili said. 

He stated that a main problem of the Georgian government is that “it is trying to remain in the position it was in until now to somehow balance the interests of the West and Russia”.

“These interests are not balanced, that is the point, this is the main problem”, said Zurabishvili. 

The expert said that sanctioning Ivanishvili “means giving Georgia to Russia, that is why I do not expect the West to impose sanctions on him”. 

He stated that if Ivanishvili faces sanctions, “he and the current authorities will open doors to Russia. No one will assure me this will not happen”.