US sanctions founder of Georgia’s ruling party amid pro-EU protests
- 27 December, 11:56
The United States has imposed sanctions on the founder and chairman of the ruling Georgia Dream party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and his party for derailing the country from a pro-Western stance.
The State and Treasury department said on Friday it imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation.”
“We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protestors, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. It added that “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.”
Ivanishvili is self-appointed “honorary” chairman of the ruling Georgia Dream party that has been in power in the past 12 years. Ivanishvili, who made most of his fortune in Russia, has close ties with Moscow and has been accused of moving Georgia towards Russia. The party won a victory in the parliamentary election held in October amid allegations of fraud and passed highly unpopular decision last month to halt talks over Georgia’s EU accession, sparking large-scale pro-EU protests in the country. Earlier this month, Georgian parliament appointed pro-Russian, far-right politician Mikheil Kavelashvili as the new president through electoral voting.
