US sanctions billionaire founding father of Georgia Dream occasion

The US has imposed sanctions on former Georgian Prime Minister and billionaire founding father of the Georgian Dream occasion, Bidzina Ivanishvili.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Ivanishvili and his occasion had “derailed Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future”, leaving it susceptible to Russia.

Ivanishvilli is just not an elected official however has been described because the “honorary president” of Georgian Dream, which spent 12 years in energy.

The occasion claimed victory in current elections amid allegations of fraud and shortly introduced the suspension of EU accession negotiations, sparking widespread protests.

Opposition MPs boycott new parliament, alleging fraud.

The inauguration of the brand new president, former Manchester Metropolis footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili, from the Folks’s Energy occasion, thought of an ally of the Georgian dream, is deliberate in two days.

However outgoing President Salomé Zurabishvili, staunchly pro-European, mentioned she wouldn’t resign till new elections have been held.

“We strongly condemn the actions of Georgian Dream underneath the management of Ivanishvili, together with its continued violent repression towards Georgian residents, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists and public figures. opposition,” Blinken mentioned in an announcement.

Blinken accused Georgian Dream of “continued and violent repression towards Georgian residents, protesters, journalists, rights activists and opposition figures”, and mentioned the occasion’s actions had “put the brakes on the train basic freedoms.”

“The outcome left Georgia susceptible to Russia, which continues to occupy greater than 20% of Georgian territory,” he mentioned.

US State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller referred to as Ivanishvili “honorary chairman” of Georgian Dream.

In November, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze mentioned his authorities wouldn’t search to barter EU membership earlier than 2028, sparking ongoing protests.

Riot police used tear gasoline and water cannons towards protesters, who responded by throwing fireworks and rocks.

UK sanctions five more senior Georgian officialstogether with the Minister of the Inside, for his or her function within the repression of pro-European demonstrations.

Final month, the European Parliament backed a decision describing the elections as the most recent stage of the “deepening democratic disaster” in Georgia.

He expressed specific concern about experiences of voter intimidation, vote shopping for and manipulation, and harassment of observers.