Georgian PM calls US sanctions "frivolous, very unfortunate", aimed to “influence elections”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday called sanctions imposed by the United States Government on several individuals and entities in Georgia on Monday were “frivolous and very unfortunate" and claimed their “sole purpose could be to influence” the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.

The US Department of Treasury imposed visa and financial sanctions on Zviad Kharazishvili, the Director of the Special Tasks Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, his deputy Milleri Lagazauri, as well as Konstantine Morgoshia and Zurab Makharadze - the leaders of the Georgian-based pro-Russian media outlet Alt-Info.

The individuals were placed under financial sanctions as part of the global Magnitsky List - a roster named after Russian tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in detention in Russia in 2009.

The US State Department also expanded visa sanctions to include 60 individuals and their family members who it said were involved in “undermining democracy, spreading disinformation, and engaging in corruption within the country”.

Kobakhidze emphasised his Government had sought to “maintain open communication” with its American partners, despite “challenges” in the bilateral relationship “over the past four years”.

We have reached out to our partners, despite the challenges that have arisen in Georgian-American relations over the past four years, and you know the significant [negative] contributions of the former US Ambassador [...] We are open to discussing any topic. [But] [i]n such circumstances, these actions are completely counterproductive”, he said.

The Prime Minister also said he was confident about voters' “response to such actions” in the upcoming elections, expressing belief that they would “reject any potential return of the collective United National Movement” to power, which he claimed had brought “war, destruction, business rackets, torture, and murder” to the country during its spell.

We understand that it is a pre-election period and there are certain problems. American institutions need de-oligarchisation. Under these circumstances, we may witness certain actions taken during the pre-election period. Although these actions may be aimed at influencing the elections, I believe that the response of Georgian voters to such actions will be clear and decisive. This response will likely lead to UNM being left in the past”, he said.

Kobakhidze also said the State Department was “not to blame for the recent sanctions” and emphasised the influence of “oligarchic forces over official institutions” as the primary cause of the measures.

Formally, this statement was issued by the US State Department, which is very sad for us, because we have to answer to the State Department in this case. However, we want to emphasise that the State Department is not the cause of the issue; rather, it is the oligarchic forces that have a significant influence on formal institutions in the US. Therefore, our criticism is not directed at the US, but at the oligarchic influences”, he said.

Kobakhidze also said he believed the decision on sanctions had not been made by President Joe Biden himself but rather by “informal forces that hold influence over his administration”.

We will be in communication with the Biden administration. I may also communicate directly, and I will share information with you. We are completely open to meetings, discussions, and communication. We always take notice of this, and we take effective steps from our side. Unfortunately, the other side has not followed appropriate steps”, he said.

I want to emphasise the sanctioning of police officers. These are the [people] who have prevented revolution in our country twice since 2020. At this time, the public has questions about whether someone wants to try for a third time to organise a revolution in Georgia and weaken the police”, he alleged.

The PM added the alleged intention would “not succeed”, saying his Government expected a “healthy and correct attitude towards both state institutions and the Georgian public".

Kobakhidze said Georgian-American relations “should be qualitatively reset” from next year and expressed hope the current Ambassador's “personal involvement” would have a "significant impact" on the process.

He welcomed the “positive impact of the current Ambassador [Robin Dunnigan], as opposed to the previous one [Kelly Degnan]”, and said his Government hoped she would “personally contribute to improving Georgian-American relations”.