Very big machine working against Ivanishvili – culture minister

Tea Tsulukiani, the culture minister of Georgia, said on Wednesday that a “very big machine is working against Bidzina Ivanishvili”, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former prime minister, in response to the recent resolution of the European Parliament which called for the “curbing” of the “excessive power” of the billionaire on the country’s political and economic life. 

“The man’s [Ivanishvili’s] presence worries many. A big machine is working against him. What should they say – Bidzina Ivanishvili, vanish!  They can not say that. That is why they are inventing various things, including running the country from the backstage by him”, Tsulukiani said. 

The document, which was adopted by the Foreigh Relations Committee of the European Parliament on Tuesday over the fulfillment of the EU-Georgia 2014 Association Agreement was slammed by the ruling party members, as it pointed to politically motivated cases and the release of imprisoned formed president Mikheil Saakashvili on humanitarian grounds.