Byline Times article linking Bidzina Ivanishvili to Russia commissioned, funded by Soros Foundation’s Georgian office

A recent article published by the British online publication Byline Times alleging Russian ties of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was commissioned and funded by the Soros Foundation’s Georgian office and was based on statements from the opposition figures Sergi Kapanadze and Natalia Sabanadze.

Byline Times published an article titled “Moscow’s ties to the Georgian regime ran through Kensington and Chelsea”. The article quickly caught the attention of the opposition media, prompting a wave of news reports reflecting the narrative of the collective United National Movement.

Byline Times describes itself as a platform for independent journalism, run by a team of journalists. The author of the article is identified as Will Neal, a freelance investigative journalist whose social media profile indicates a focus on the South Caucasus region.

The Byline Times article alleges Russian connections to prominent Georgian figures, specifically targeting Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and Irakli Rukhadze, the businessman and owner of Imedi TV. The claims are primarily based on opinions and statements from individuals associated with the opposition.

Notably, the article heavily features quotes from Sergi Kapanadze, a former member of the United National Movement party. One such quote included in the piece states that “Ivanishvili destroyed all democratic institutions using the best Russian methods, arrested the opposition, seized the courts and all branches of Government, in parallel with attacks on civil society”.

Furthermore, the article cites Nata Sabanadze, the former Georgian Ambassador to the European Union and current member of Giorgi Gakharia's party. Sabanadze claims that the TV channel Imedi is a powerful tool for the Georgian Dream and suggests the possibility of sanctions against the broadcaster, stating, “If there is a political decision that sanctions should be directed not only at Ivanishvili, but at a wider group of key facilitators, then Imedi TV will definitely fall into this category”.

An examination of Will Neal's social media activity reveals a consistent pattern of sharing posts from Georgian and international supporters of the radical opposition, often expressing agreement with their viewpoints and anti-government sentiments.

Further investigation into the article's origins suggests that it was commissioned and funded by organisations within Georgia. These include the Civil Society Foundation, formerly known as the Open Society Georgia Foundation (often referred to as the Soros Foundation), and Tina Khidasheli's Civil Idea.