Business
US sanctions billionaire founder of Georgia Dream party
The US has imposed sanctions on Georgia’s former prime minister and billionaire founder of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ivanishvili and his party had “derailed Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future”, leaving it vulnerable to Russia.
Ivanishvilli is not an elected official but he has been described as the “honorary chairman” of Georgian Dream, which has spent 12 years in power.
The party claimed victory in recent elections amid allegations of fraud and swiftly announced the suspension of EU accession talks, sparking widespread protests.