US Ambassador confirms meeting with ex-PM Ivanishvili, dismisses allegations of pressure over Ukraine war

Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday confirmed she had met Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the former Prime Minister of Georgia, on March 21, shortly after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but rejected allegations on the discussion concerning Georgia joining the conflict or exerting pressure on Ivanishvili to push Government authorities to confront Russia. 

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

Speaking with Interpressnews, Degnan claimed that the meeting, which, as Ivanishvili said on Wednesday was initiated by the Ambassador and lasted for three hours, was about the US-Georgia cooperation and strategic partnership,noting that “we normally do not talk about our private meetings in the press, but as Mr. Ivanishvili has confirmed, I last met with him on March 21, which was some time ago”. 

The meeting was in the capacity of discussing the US-Georgia partnership and the United States’ efforts to support Georgia’s economic, security, and democratic development. Let me be absolutely clear, so no one will have to ask again: there was never talk about involving Georgia in Russia’s war against Ukraine, or about ‘blackmail’ or actions to stall the transfer of Mr. Ivanishvili’s money. I would refer you to him or the banks involved regarding the questions on these topics”, Degnan said. 

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. Photo: Georgian Dream press office. 

Dismissing the allegations by three former MPs of the ruling party, who left the GD last month “to tell the public the truth”, that the US was trying to drag Georgia into Russia’s war in Ukraine and that Degnan met Ivanishvili to “exert pressure” on him, the Ambassador said that the US “was open” when it concerned any sanctions and that the allegations over the war was part of “Russian propaganda”. 

There were many vague insinuations about sanctions and pressure from the United States. [...] when the US imposes sanctions, it becomes known immediately because the information is open and available”, Degnan said. 

In the interview Degnan encouraged the Georgian political parties “to put aside private interests” and work together for Georgia’s European Union candidate membership status. 

Democracy is all about compromise and reaching consensus so that everyone can support the final outcome. Compromise is not a sign of weakness; on the contrary, the democracies that have been able to work together have turned out to be the strongest", Degnan stated.

In a letter released on Wednesday, Ivanishvili, who left Georgian politics in January 2021, confirmed reports over his meeting with Degnan, making no comments about the content of the discussion. 

Commending the Georgian authorities for their moves to  prevent 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 partners, the United States and the European Union, are not damaged”.