US financial sanctions, account freezing imminent, opposition MP Dekanoidze

Opposition member of parliament, Khatia Dekanoidze, on Wednesday announced that financial sanctions, including the freezing of accounts of Georgian Dream ruling party representatives, were imminent. She emphasised that the potential sanctions would also target Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and the honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party. 

“When Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks of this, it indicates that financial sanctions, which involve freezing accounts and prohibiting dollar transactions in any bank, are certain. Ivanishvili will also be subjected to these sanctions,” said Dekanoidze.

Dekanoidze highlighted the gravity of the situation, saying, “This is a very serious approach from the Secretary of State of the United States, signalling that the Georgian Dream party is being isolated from the civilised world.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly criticised the Foreign Influence Transparency Law adopted by the Georgian Parliament earlier this year  and discussed anticipated sanctions. The first set of sanctions has already been implemented, imposing travel restrictions on 36 individuals, including the GD officials. However, the US has refused to identify them.