Perran Moon, a British Labor MP, is among the growing number of parliamentarians vocally critical of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s role in Georgia’s political crisis. He has described Ivanishvili as a “Putin-backed oligarch” and insists that the UK has both the tools and the responsibility to hold him accountable. In a conversation with RFE/RL’s Georgian Service, Moon underscores London’s leverage over Ivanishvili’s wealth and influence, the importance of fair elections, and why the idea of a “deep state” conspiracy is nothing more than deflection.
“The UK government really isn’t in the business of shrugging our shoulders and saying, “oh, forget it, walk away.” We never have. We have obligations to partners all over Europe to influence the establishment of democracy,” Moon says. “We are very keen to ensure that as much pressure is applied on our government to make the decisions that I think we need to make to ensure that, for example, there are free and fair elections in Georgia, and that the people of Georgia are allowed to elect in a free and fair way whomever they wish to elect. We can apply whatever pressure we possibly can to ensure that the rule of law and democracy prevails.”
Moon has described Bidzina Ivanishvili as “the Putin-backed oligarch and de facto ruler of Georgia,” accusing him of suppressing peaceful protest using tactics reminiscent of Russia. But Ivanishvili isn’t Putin—and the West, including the UK, arguably holds far more leverage over him than it does over the Kremlin. Much of his wealth is tied to the UK or British overseas territories. With early day motions, debates, and public condemnations having already been heard from the UK, we asked Moon whether the Georgian government should expect more.
“I think the British government is very much aware of the level of Mr. Ivanishvili’s financial interest within London, and that the UK holds a particular place in his overall financial needs. We’re very aware of the implications of that. We’re also aware of the importance it is to him, and the government is looking very closely at that right now. It is on the agenda,” Moon says.
How far is “being aware and looking into it” to actionable steps?
It’s a delicate situation, and we are looking at this process right now. It would be wrong for me to give you a timescale. If I were to speculate, I would say that there are likely all sorts of financial implications that go way beyond just London. I suspect it’s more complex than perhaps meets the eye. But it doesn’t mean that we stop keeping the pressure on, keep asking the questions. I want to reassure your readers that it is something that is very high on the agenda for the Foreign Office, and we in the British Parliament will not be letting this go. There is no split on this matter in parliament. We’ll continue to ask questions, to understand what progress is being made, and how quickly. We would like it to move faster than it is. There’s a group of us who are pushing hard and making sure that the Foreign Office knows that.
Georgian Dream has responded to the recent UK sanctions by accusing Britain of being “a plaything of the Deep State” and alleging blackmail and interference in Georgia’s domestic affairs. How do you respond to these claims?
It’s nothing that we haven’t heard before, deep state, conspiracy, blackmail and so on. There is no deep state conspiracy against Georgia.
Interview by Vazha Tavberidze
