PM: Bidzina Ivanishvili “is everywhere” where Georgian “cause needs support”

There was “nothing unusual” that Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, appreciated the “joy brought” to the Georgian people and gave an “unprecedented” reward to the players of the Georgian national team, the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Saturday in his social post message, adding “everyone knows Ivanishvili is everywhere where the Georgian cause needs support”.

Kobakhidze’s statement came after Ivanishvili allocated $11 million as a reward to the Georgian national football team for successfully competing at the European Championship in Germany and reaching the round of 16.

“He has done what everyone expected in the light of a $3 billion philanthropy [of Ivanishvili in Georgia], and thus it should not have been a surprise to anyone. It would be strange if he did not stand by the side of the success of Georgian football”, the Head of the Government added.

In reference to unspecific criticism in the domestic society towards the members of the Georgian national team, who have recently expressed gratitude to Ivanishvili for the reward, Kobakhidze noted that “gratitude is a completely normal thing in general and even more so in Georgia”, stressing it was an “elementary expression of honour”, which the “boys of our national team have already proved abundantly on and off the football field”.

Kobakhidze also pointed out that criticism and animosity were “the reactions of the collective National Movement [party]” to the award given to the football players, as they once again tried to cover the celebration and happiness of the country with the “usual” negativity following the success of the national team.

“Our proud footballers should not be offended by any of the words of hatred that the liberal-fascist minority have thrown against their perfectly natural appreciation. When the enemy of the country reviles at you, it means that you are doing the right thing and you are the right person. They are enemies of the country and you are patriots, and under such conditions, their confrontation with you is a completely natural occurrence”, he added.

The country's “enemies feel uneasy”, but Georgian football is “moving forward”, Kobakhidze further concluded, adding he was sure that there would be many more victories ahead, which “our small but proud country and all Georgian patriots deserve”.

He also highlighted the “greatest success” of the national football team at the European Championship, saying the squad “made Europe talk about the Georgian football talent”. 

The team’s journey on their major tournament debut earned them praise for their performances, including a surprising 2-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the final group stage match.

The win earned the squad a spot in the playoff round as the best third-placed team from the pool stage, where they lost to Spain 4-1 in the last 16 round.