Ex-PM Ivanishvili launches NGO

Former Prime Minister of Georgia and billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili has launched a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), aimed at supporting Georgia's democratic and economic development process.

The NGO, named The Citizen was registered on January 23.

Ivanishvili will lead the organisation, and is expected to speak more about the goals and objectives of his new business venture on January 28 at a meeting with local and international media.

Information from the Public Registry stated The Citizen will support democratic, economic, social and educational development in the country. It will also ensure independent and responsible media, defend human rights and support the rule of law.

Furthermore, it indicated that the organisation would elaborate a peaceful concept of regeneration of the countries territorial integrity.

To achieve these goals the organisation planned to arrange seminars and conferences, and implement target projects and programs.

Besides this, The Citizen will develop partnership relations with state entities, business leaders, educational centers and religious organisations.

"The organisation will support the process of raising responsibility in order that every citizen makes his own contribution to the country’s democratic and economic development,” it read in the Public Registry documents.

Giorgi Sabanadze, 30, has been appointed as the NGO's chief executive officer. He has worked at the state library and for Radio One as an anchor of an analytical program about politics and foreign affairs.

When Ivanishvili announced he was leaving politics, after the 2013 Presidential Elections in November, he promised he would launch a civil society organization.

Exhibition of gifts 

More than a hundred gifts received by ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili were presented to the journalists at the Government Chancellery on January 23. He donated all presents he received from various leaders to the state, hoping to be an example to the following Prime Ministers. To see all presents of former Prime Minister, go to "In Pictures”.

This is only a small portion of the gifts. All the gifts will be displayed in the State Chancellery of the Georgian Government.

As State Chancellery states when Bidzina Ivanishvili was in office, he donated his full salary to charity. He also funded official visits abroad with his own money, including all airplane operating costs, and all other expenses relating to his job. 

       Watch by Ulysse Nardini, was gifted to Bidzina Ivanishvili by the Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. Photo by N. Alavidze. 

To see more gifts go to "In Pictures."