“I will appeal to the EU and US leadership to consider imposing personal sanctions on Ivanishvili and his assets in the West,” Davit Arakhamia, chairman of the Servant of the People faction in the Ukrainian Rada, and a negotiator of the Ukrainian delegation, wrote in a statement posted on his Telegram page.
He claimed that today Ivanishvili has become Georgia’s Yanukovych and he and his cronies are pursuing a policy towards Ukraine that isn’t supported by the Georgian people.
“Ukrainians and Georgians have always been and will remain sister nations.
“Georgia’s prominent figures recorded a video appeal in our support even before February 24, while many Georgians have been fighting for Ukraine on the frontline since. They overwhelmingly support Ukraine and our victory in the war.
“But, sadly, that can’t be said of the Georgian authorities. And the reason is simple — the country’s top oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili has close ties with the Russian political elite, as once again confirmed by the recently brought to light audio recordings.
“The essence of the current Georgian government’s policy is simply to follow the Kremlin’s instructions. This is the reason for their rhetoric of not recognizing Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine and aiding Russia in circumventing the sanctions.
“Today Ivanishvili has become Georgia’s Yanukovych. He and his cronies are pursuing a policy towards Ukraine that isn’t supported by the Georgian people. They want to drive a wedge between Georgians and Ukrainians for decades to come. To prevent this, I will appeal to the EU and US leadership to consider imposing personal sanctions on Ivanishvili and his assets in the West. No one should escape the responsibility — neither the occupiers nor those who assist them,” Arakhamia stated.
Recently, an audio recording was spread on social media, allegedly involving Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream, and Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the Russian oligarch and founder of Sistemas.
The telephone conversation dated March 10 and March 12 this year concerns a meeting of Russian businessmen in Tbilisi. The recording mentions the name of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, about whom Ivanishvili allegedly told Yevtushenkov that he had met with his envoy. In response, Yevtushenkov allegedly asks Ivanishvili to personally meet with his representative.
