The US has imposed sanctions on Georgia’s former prime minister and billionaire founding father of the Georgian Dream celebration, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Ivanishvili and his celebration had “derailed Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future”, leaving it susceptible to Russia.
Ivanishvilli shouldn’t be an elected official however he has been described because the “honorary chairman” of Georgian Dream, which has spent 12 years in energy.
The celebration claimed victory in current elections amid allegations of fraud and swiftly introduced the suspension of EU accession talks, sparking widespread protests.
Opposition MPs have been boycotting the brand new parliament, alleging fraud.
The inauguration of a brand new president – former Manchester Metropolis footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili of the Individuals’s Energy celebration, who’s seen as a Georgian Dream ally – is scheduled for 2 days’ time.
However outgoing president Salome Zurabishvili, who’s strongly pro-European, has mentioned she is not going to step down till new elections are held.
“We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions beneath Ivanishvili’s management, together with its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian residents, protestors, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” a press release from Blinken mentioned.
Blinken accused Georgian Dream of “ongoing and violent repression” of Georgian residents, protestors, journalists, rights activists and opposition figures”, and mentioned the celebration’s actions had “curbed the train of elementary freedoms”.
“The outcome has left Georgia susceptible to Russia, which continues to occupy greater than 20% of Georgia’s territory,” he mentioned.
US state division spokesperson Matthew Miller described Ivanishvili because the “honorary chairman” of Georgian Dream.
In November Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze mentioned his authorities wouldn’t search EU accession talks till 2028, triggering ongoing protests.
Riot police have used tear fuel and water cannon towards protesters, who’ve fought again by throwing fireworks and stones.
The UK has sanctioned 5 different senior Georgian officers, together with the inside minister, for his or her roles in suppressing pro-European protests.
Final month, the European Parliament backed a decision describing the election as the most recent stage in Georgia’s “worsening democratic disaster”.
It expressed explicit concern about studies of voter intimidation, vote-buying and manipulation, and harassment of observers.