Ruling party founder, former PM Ivanishvili: US Ambassador requested a meeting after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, who left politics in January 2021, said on Wednesday the United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan had requested a meeting with him in March of this year, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the two holding a three-hour discussion. 

Ivanishvili, whose Georgian Dream coalition defeated the nine-year rule of the United National Movement back in 2012, refrained from unveiling the details of the meeting with Degnan in the letter released early on Wednesday, refusing to make it clear whether “great forces” were trying to drag Georgia into Russia’s war in Ukraine as former ruling party MPs claimed this earlier this month. 

“Georgia has repeatedly proven that it is loyal to European values” 

In the letter Ivanishvili stated that Georgia “has repeatedly proven” that it was loyal to European values. 

Since the restoration of independence 30 years ago, the Georgian people have shown once again that dignity, freedom and independence are their key values. At the same time, Georgian society has proved that despite its short democratic experience, it has the wisdom to deal with the most difficult challenges with dignity”, Ivanishvili said. 

Ivanishvili has praised current state authorities for preventing war. Photo: Government of Georgia press office.

Ivanishvili - I have fully defended, will defend my own decision not to interfere in politics 

Ivanishvili, who had to enter and leave Georgian politics twice since the Georgian Dream took office, has dismissed allegations, including those coming from the European Parliament, over his interference in Georgian politics. 

He claimed that he “had defended and would defend” his own decision to stand aside. 

It has been a year and a half since I informed the public about my decision to withdraw from politics, and since then, I have fully defended and will defended my own decision”, he said, noting that while absence he published a “single letter” with the goal “to give no one the opportunity to speculate on my behalf”.

However, Ivanishvili noted that as a citizen of Georgia, he was following events. 

Ivanishvili dismissed MEPs' allegations over running the country from the backstage. 

Current authorities prevented war amid attempts by some forces to drag Georgia into hostilities -  Ivanishvili 

Ivanishvili praised the current authorities for their “patriotic and reasonable” moves which did not allow “some forces” to drag Georgia into Russia’s war in Ukraine which “would be fatal” for Georgia. 

On the background of the most difficult political situation in the region, Georgia and its leadership had to go through very painful processes over the past several months and are still having to go through it. The situation for Georgia and its government is complicated as certain forces have actively tried to drag Georgia into the war. The forces are still trying to draw Georgia into the war”, Ivanishvili said, adding that the threat would remain until the completion of the war in Ukraine. 

As the danger still existed, Ivanishvili suggested that “both the government and the public should be extremely careful so that Georgia can finally avoid a fatal war”.

“Maintaining strategic partnership with the US, EU crucial” 

Commending the Georgian authorities for preventing the war, Ivanishvili said that the current peace allowed the Government “to largely shift its attention to another most important priority and to ensure that Georgia's relations with its strategic partner, the United States and the European Union, are not damaged”. 

Ivanishvili has won a long-running battle with Credit Suisse to reclaim funds stolen by a former employee of the Swiss bank.

“My Swiss Bank issue connected with Georgia, but it will remain my personal problem”  

Ivanishvili confirmed that the delay in a $500 million transfer from a Swiss Bank, which lost a case to Ivanishvili earlier this year, was connected with Georgia. However, he said that he had no plans to “bother” the public with the topic.

•  Bidzina Ivanishvili wins long-running battle with Credit Suisse

As Georgia has practically overcome the difficult situation and the immediate threat of war has passed. I prefer to leave the relationship between me and the Swiss bank as my personal problem and not to burden the public with it too much”, Ivanishvili said. 

He suggested that it also “did not matter” how he intended to spend the money - “for private purposes or for public needs. I prefer that the public take the problem created by the bank as my personal problem in all cases”.

In the final part of the letter Ivanishvili said that the “most important thing for me is that Georgia can finally get out of the most difficult situation properly and maintain peace, and I will take care of my personal issue myself and will not try to overburden the society with this problem”.