No sanctions, “blackmail” will force ruling party Honorary Chair to “endanger” Georgia's “peace” - PM

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder, would “not be influenced by sanctions or blackmail to compromise Georgia’s peace and stability”. 

Speaking at a briefing, the top official stressed no external pressure would force Ivanishvili to “endanger the country’s fundamental interests”.

Kobakhidze addressed recent comments by James O'Brien, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, who noted Washington had no information about threats against Ivanishvili amid an ongoing investigation by the Georgian State Security Service over alleged assassination plans against Ivanishvili and conspiracy to overthrow the country’s Government.  

The PM reacted by questioning why the State Department would be “expected to handle such threats”, adding “everyone knows that there are dangers”.

The US Government has had difficulty addressing threats to its own presidential candidate. It is incomprehensible for the US to take responsibility for threats against Georgian figures”, Kobakhidze said.

He also claimed Ivanishvili was “under de facto sanctions, with $2 billion frozen in Europe”.

This is effectively a sanction against Mr. Ivanishvili. However, neither such sanctions nor blackmail can coerce him into actions that would harm Georgia’s national interests”, the official added.

Kobakhidze further highlighted Ivanishvili would “not under any circumstances, even in the face of sanctions and blackmail, take actions that will lead to a second front, a war, or a scenario similar to what has unfortunately happened in our friendly Ukraine” taking place in Georgia.