Ivanishvili, widely viewed as Georgia\u2019s de facto leader is accused of undermining of democracy and Russian ties.
\n Washington DC
\nThe United States imposed sanctions on Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili on Friday, accusing the former prime minister of undermining democracy in Georgia and enabling Russia to benefit from his actions.
\nIvanishvili, a former metals and telecom magnate, has been a prominent figure in Georgian politics and is widely viewed as the de facto leader of the country.
\nThe US Department of State, led by Secretary Antony Blinken, announced that the sanctions were in response to Ivanishvili\u2019s role in weakening Georgia\u2019s democratic processes and supporting policies that benefit Russia.
\nThe sanctions freeze any US-based assets belonging to Ivanishvili, making it harder for him to conduct business or access financial resources in the United States.
\nIvanishvili, who amassed a fortune in Russia during the 1990s, has long been accused of steering Georgia away from its Western allies while fostering closer ties with Russia.
\nCritics argue that under his leadership, the country has grown more authoritarian and increasingly aligned with Moscow.
\nIvanishvili has dismissed these allegations, accusing foreign intelligence agencies of attempting to push Georgia into a conflict with Russia.
\nThe sanctions come at a time of growing tension between the West and Georgia, a former Soviet republic that is a candidate for European Union membership.
\nGeorgia\u2019s ruling party, the Georgian Dream, has struggled to balance its pro-Western rhetoric with pragmatic relations with Russia.
\nPrime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemned the sanctions as \u201cblackmail\u201d and characterized them as a \u201creward\u201d for Ivanishvili\u2019s efforts to protect Georgia from war.
\nHe also reiterated claims from Ivanishvili\u2019s supporters that the billionaire has been under informal US sanctions for years\u2014allegations the US government denies.
\nGeorgian Dream, which is heavily influenced by Ivanishvili, has been facing increasing scrutiny for its domestic policies.
\nThe party recently froze talks with the European Union, postponing negotiations for membership until 2028. This decision led to widespread protests and a subsequent crackdown, with over 400 people, including opposition politicians, detained.
\nOpposition leader Giorgi Vashadze of the United National Movement welcomed the US sanctions, calling them a \u201cserious success\u201d of the Georgian people\u2019s protest against Ivanishvili\u2019s influence.
\nThe US had previously sanctioned several Georgian officials from the interior ministry on December 18, accusing them of involvement in the crackdown on protesters.
\nTensions have also been exacerbated by a disputed election in October, which saw Georgian Dream win nearly 54% of the vote.
\nOpposition parties have alleged electoral fraud, and President Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of Georgian Dream, has refused to recognize the results.
\nZourabichvili has indicated that she will not vacate her office at the end of her term, despite the party\u2019s efforts to install a new president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, who will be inaugurated on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ivanishvili, widely viewed as Georgia\u2019s de facto leader is accused of undermining of democracy and Russian ties. Washington DC The United States imposed sanctions on Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili on Friday, accusing the former prime minister of undermining democracy in Georgia and enabling Russia to benefit from his actions. Ivanishvili, a former metals and telecom […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":452224,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-452191","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n