Ruling party head: former PM doesn’t qualify for oligarch status due to non-involvement in politics

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, did not qualify for the status of an “oligarch” as he was not involved in domestic politics. 

Kobakhidze instead claimed David Kezerashvili, Georgia's wanted former Defence Minister and Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party, were “acting as oligarchs” in domestic political life.

Bidzina Ivanishvili is not involved in politics. Bidzina Ivanishvili is out of politics, he is not involved in political processes, unlike Kezerashvili, Khazaradze and others who are openly involved in political processes. Therefore, these persons are oligarchs”, he alleged.

The ruling party head made the comments on the backdrop of the introduction of the action plan for deoligarchisation - aimed to meet one of the conditions outlined by the European Commission last year for granting Georgia the European Union candidate status - and said while the plan would not “completely solve the problem” of addressing oligarchic influence, it would bring “some progress”. 

I am far from thinking that this action plan will solve the problem of oligarchs in [domestic] politics. We have self-proclaimed politicians, oligarchs who directly interfere in politics, finance parties, media, and non-governmental organisations. They will probably continue this activity. However, based on this action plan, some progress can be made”, he continued.

Kobakhidze added the action plan would be approved by the Government “soon” following consultations, with its implementation monitored by “various entities”.