Bidzina Ivanishvili may soon face increased concern and disappointment from France, said Tina Bokuchava, chairperson of Unity – National Movement. Speaking to journalists, she said her party has reliable information that discussions on potential sanctions against Ivanishvili are underway.
Commenting on reports that the French Embassy provided funding to an NGO involving former National Movement members Irakli Khvadagiani and Giorgi Kandelaki, Bokuchava emphasized that France follows transparent grant procedures aimed at supporting democratic development in Georgia.
“If Mr. Ivanishvili is already troubled by this, greater disappointment may lie ahead,” Bokuchava noted. “As a French citizen, he is of particular interest to France when acting against Western values and enabling Russian influence.”
She also addressed the “resistance platform” around former President Salome Zurabishvili. “After the March 31 protest, where many expected a stronger statement from her, we decided to engage with her format only when truly necessary. So far, that need hasn’t arisen. Meanwhile, we continue working with other political groups, especially on international advocacy under the ‘Georgian Will’ initiative,” Bokuchava added.
After the statement made by the fifth president Salome Zurabishvili at the March 31 rally, the party Unity – National Movement decided to leave the “platform of resistance.”
In particular, as Bokuchava stated on PalitraNews, Salome Zurabishvili failed to say anything new during her speech at the March 31 rally.
In addition, Bokuchava notes that there was dissatisfaction with Salome Zurabishvili for not pardoning the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili.
“At the March 31 rally, which was an important rally due to the historicity of this date, after the statement we heard from Salome Zurabishvili, which, in my opinion, did not bring any news to the public, we said that we would not participate in this format.
“There was the greatest distance between the National Movement and Salome Zurabishvili. Why? Because one pro-European president, who tried to strengthen the European flag in Georgia when the Russians were taking it away from us, did not pardon the other president. Salome Zurabishvili had no explanation for this, it was a decision based on personal taste. This was her exclusive right, which no one could dispute,” Bokuchava said.
Related story: Salome Zurabishvili: Pro-European resistance platform to be formed
