The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the founder of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia in the interests of the Russian Federation,” according to statements by the US Treasury and State Departments.
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“The United States is designating Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, for undermining Georgia’s democratic and Euro-Atlantic future in the interests of the Russian Federation,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after the US Treasury designated the former Georgian prime minister and billionaire on the sanctions list.
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Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on October 26. According to the Central Election Commission, the ruling Georgian Dream party, which advocates maintaining relations with Russia and against anti-Russian sanctions, received 53.93% of the votes. Four opposition parties also entered parliament, receiving a total of 37.78%. Opposition representatives have already stated that they do not recognize the CEC data. Special Coordinator of the short-term OSCE mission Pascal Alizar noted the good organization of the elections in Georgia, while stating a number of violations recorded by observers. Salome Zurabishvili, who helps the pro-European opposition, despite the fact that according to the constitution the president must be non-partisan, called for protests over the election results.
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Another series of opposition protests began in Georgia on November 28, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the decision to suspend consideration of the start of negotiations on the country’s membership in the European Union until 2028. Protesters used firecrackers, stones, bottles, and it was reported that Molotov cocktail bottles were found at the site of the pogroms. The security forces responded by using special equipment, including water cannons.
