Tbilisi: Davit Zurabishvili, the political expert analyst, on Thursday, stated,” I have no expectations for the founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party and the country’s former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili to be sanctioned.” The sanctioning of Ivnaishvili would ultimately imply the Western abandonment of Georgia and handing over the country to Russia.
A recent report from USAID had highlighted Ivanishvili as the richest oligarch and the one having well-established links with Kremlin. The report was based upon the information that Transparency International Georgia provided.
Zurabishvili in his remarks, have urged Georgia to choose one side in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“Practically, after the current war in Ukraine, the world would be entering a new Cold War era. On the one hand, Russia and on the other hand, the West. It would be impossible for a small country like us, which is a neighbour of Russia, to maintain a balance with both powers. It will not work; we have to choose a side. This does not mean that we want to engage in military action or war, but we must have a clear position about who you stand for”, Zurabishvili said.
According to him, the main issue of the Georgian government is that it is trying to balance its position between the interests of Russia and the West by remaining neutral towards the issue till now. Further stating that imposing sanctions on Ivanishvili would ultimately imply handing over Georgia to Russia and that’s why I least expect the West to impose sanctions on him.
And if that happens, he and the current authorities will open doors to Russia. No one will assure me this will not happen, says Zurabishvili.
