Georgian PM: ruling party founder “will not be blackmailed” over foreign influence bill

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and former Prime Minister of the country, would “not be blackmailed against the country” over the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.

Kobakhidze was responding to a press question on a potential sanctioning of Ivanishvili by foreign powers being a basis for withdrawing the bill that has sparked public protest across the country, and said the party official had “himself considered this matter non-serious and is not interested in it”.

The PM noted Ivanishvili had declined to meet James O’Brien, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, who is set to visit the country on Tuesday.

In addition, I would like to tell you that there were cases during the past months when Bidzina Ivanishvili refused to meet with other foreign diplomats and politicians. I have information about this, based on the fact that I had to agree on certain issues [and] was sometimes asked to agree on these issues - the reason for the refusal was the same in all cases”, he said.

The Government head added Ivanishvili had claimed he was “already under de facto sanctions”, in reference to $2 billion of his funds he had “entrusted to the West” being frozen since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and “ended up in the hands of the Global War Party”, the term used by Government officials to describe the United National Movement opposition and its foreign partners.

As soon as this blackmail and de facto sanctions end, any meeting can be held immediately, but today this is Ivanishvili's position on this matter”, the PM added.

Kobakhidze also told the press Ivanishvili could “not hold any meeting under blackmail”, adding this was “his very clear position”.