US sanctions Georgian billionaire Ivanishvili, former prime minister

Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister who is regarded as the nation’s de facto leader, was sanctioned by the United States on Friday for allegedly undermining democracy and benefiting Russia.

Ivanishvili has led Georgia’s shift away from the West and accused Western intelligence services of attempting to push it into conflict with Russia. Ivanishvili made billions in telecoms and metals in Russia in the 1990s.

His Georgian Dream party has drawn criticism for making the nation more authoritarian and pro-Moscow.

According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Washington was punishing the recluse Ivanishvili for “undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation.”

Ivanishvili has carried out “actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the United States or abroad” for Russia, according to Blinken.

The penalties, which block Ivanishvili’s U.S. assets, come after years of deteriorating ties between the West and Georgia, a former Soviet state that is now vying to join the European Union.

The action was described as “blackmail” by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who said it was Ivanishvili’s “reward” for keeping Georgia safe from war.

The tycoon has been under de facto U.S. sanctions for years, according to Ivanishvili friends, a claim he reiterated, although Washington disputes this.

Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream claims to be dedicated to a democratic and pro-Western Georgia while simultaneously preserving practical relations with Russia, its neighbor.

However, it unexpectedly stopped a long-standing national ambition last month by freezing EU discussions until 2028.

More than 400 individuals, including opposition leaders, have been imprisoned as a result of the crackdown and protests that followed the freeze.

OPPOSITION LEADER, WELCOME SANCTIONS FROM UKRAINE

Giorgi Vashadze, a leader of the opposition United National Movement, was reported by Georgia’s Interpress news agency as saying he applauded Ivanishvili’s penalties.

According to Vashadze, “the people’s struggle has its results,” “The whole world sees the protest of the Georgian people, and this is a serious success of this protest.”

Ivanishvili “is effectively the ruler in Tbilisi today and is doing everything to hand Georgia over to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s control,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who praised the U.S. action.

“The loss of any country in our region, the destruction of democracy for one nation and the spread of criminal Russian influence pose a threat to the entire region and all its peoples,” Zelenskiy said to Telegram.

On December 18, the United States imposed sanctions on a number of Georgian interior ministry officers who it claimed were involved in the crackdown on demonstrators.

This year, Ivanishvili has supported regulations that opponents claim are harsh and modeled after Russian legislation governing “foreign agents” and LGBT rights.

Up until 1991, Russia governed Georgia for around 200 years, and it still supports two Georgian territories that broke away. Since Moscow’s victory over Tbilisi in a five-day conflict in 2008, they have not maintained official diplomatic ties. According to Russia, it doesn’t meddle in Georgian affairs.

The latest disruptions come after a contentious election in October where Georgian Dream received about 54% of the vote, according to official data.

Opposition parties claim it was unlawful and infected with fraud.

Georgian Dream critic President Salome Zourabichvili has stated that she will remain in power till the end of her term and does not accept the election results.

Mikheil Kavelashvili, who was chosen by Georgian Dream MPs to succeed her, is scheduled to take office on Sunday.

Georgian Dream has stated that it anticipates better ties with the United States under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.