Georgian PM: Georgian Dream team, Bidzina Ivanishvili focused on restoring Georgia-US strategic partnership

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Friday that the only priority for the entire Georgian Dream team, including party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, in relations with the United States was the restoration of the strategic partnership.

Kobakhidze made the remarks in response to a journalist’s question about why Ivanishvili remained on the US sanctions list.

“This is not a matter of interest to Bidzina Ivanishvili himself. For all of us, for the entire team, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, only one thing matters when it comes to the United States: we want to restore the strategic partnership, and we are actively working towards that. We do not even raise this issue during meetings because it is of no interest to Bidzina Ivanishvili and, consequently, it is of no interest to us either. The only thing we care about is restoring the strategic partnership”, the Prime Minister said.

Kobakhidze stressed that, in light of what he described as financial blackmail directed at Ivanishvili, the latter felt uncomfortable discussing various issues with the US Ambassador or other American representatives.

“There was no discussion whatsoever of American sanctions; the discussion concerned de facto sanctions. Given the ongoing financial blackmail, you are aware of the situation: the plundering of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s accounts at a Swiss bank began back in 2008 and intensified from 2022 onwards. Given that a kind of de facto sanction is in effect, distinct from the formal sanctions imposed by the US side, it is naturally uncomfortable for him to discuss various matters with the American Ambassador or other representatives. That is an entirely different issue”, Kobakhidze noted.

“As for formal sanctions, they are of no interest to Bidzina Ivanishvili and, consequently, they are of no interest to us either. The only thing that matters to all of us is the restoration of the strategic partnership. We have made our position clear on this and are awaiting reciprocal steps. What the previous administration stated was absurd. It is of no interest to us and, first and foremost, it is of no interest to Bidzina Ivanishvili. If the strategic partnership is restored, that will be the ultimate signal”, he concluded.