The Mayor of Tbilisi closed his accounts in European banks because he “no longer trusts them” after they “robbed” Georgian Dream Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Kakha Kaladze commented on this to journalists, to explain why assets stored in banks of other countries are no longer visible in his property declaration.
“Why should I keep money in foreign banks? Look at their attitude towards Bidzina Ivanishvili and what they did to him – they robbed him. Why should I trust them?” he stated.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m not nervous, so why are you nervous? Bidzina Ivanishvili has been sanctioned. This is the reality. A person who has won all kinds of lawsuits will not get his money back. This is a political decision. Unfortunately, there is no justice in today’s world. This is a sad reality. But don’t worry about my finances. Why should I keep property in foreign banks? Why should I trust them? Of course, I don’t trust them,” Kaladze said.
In his last property declaration, published on January 31, 2024 and reflecting the situation in 2023, accounts in banking and credit institutions of other countries are no longer recorded. This means that he withdrew these funds from foreign banks last year. Based on the declaration published in 2024, Kakha Kaladze has accounts only in Georgian banks.
Bidzina Ivanishvili has a dispute not with one European bank, the bankrupt Swiss bank Credit Suisse. The dispute between Ivanishvili and the bank is ongoing in different jurisdictions.
