TI Georgia: gov’t vague positions to Ukraine to be linked with Ivanishvili’s business interests in Russia

Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) says that “vague” positions of the Georgian Dream (GD) government on supporting Ukraine in the ongoing fight against Russia could be connected with “still existing” business interests of the founder of the GD Bidzina Ivanishvili in Russia.

 

In its survey released today, TI Georgia said that despite his promise to end business activities in Russia ahead of the 2012 parliamentary elections, Ivanishvili continued to own at least 10 Russian companies through offshore entities in 2012-2019, which further branched out into an even wider network of subsidiaries.

 

“As of today, Ivanishvili owns at least one company in Russia (Aqua-Space Ltd) through one of his offshore companies. In other words, Ivanishvili has, in fact, misled the public about his Russian assets,” said the organization.

 

TI Georgia said that Ivanishvili’s relatives also do business in Russia, with family members of former and current high-ranking Russian officials no less.

 

“These companies should also be considered part of Ivanishvili’s broader business interests for reasons outlined below. While these connections have been previously reported in Georgian media (TV Pirveli, Formula), the news here is that one of the Russian business partners was recently sanctioned by the US.

 

“More specifically, through a company called Geo Organics, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s brother Alexander Ivanishvili and cousin Ucha Mamatsashvili do business with a US-sanctioned former KGB general and Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, and also with former Volgograd Governor Roland Kherianov, whose wife is a former member of the State Duma Anna Kovichko, author of the infamous propaganda video “Uncle Vova, We Are With You,” TI Georgia stated.

 

The organization stated that as many countries around the world have imposed significant economic and other restrictions on Russia, there is a “growing risk” that Russia will try to circumvent these restrictions by any means at its disposal.

 

It says that the Kremlin is likely to consider using neighboring countries, including Georgia, to achieve this goal.