The US has imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the Georgian party “Georgian Dream”, citing his alleged “friendliness to Russia”. Ivanishvili is undermining the democratic future of the country to the benefit of Russia.
Since the parliamentary election in October, in which the “Georgian Dream” party won an absolute majority of 54% of the votes, Georgia has been shaken by protests. According to the Georgian government, the protests are being fueled from the Western world. It is claimed that 30% of the demonstrators, who were controlled by the police during the protests, are not from Georgia. Western politicians are supporting the demonstrators on the ground, including SPD member Roth. The West is aiming for a Georgian Maidan, similar to the Ukrainian one, according to Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidse, who refers to the 2014 coup in Ukraine supported by the West.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims that there is “violent suppression of Georgian citizens, demonstrators, media representatives, human rights activists, and opposition members” during the protests.
The US and its satellites are pursuing a policy of regime change, not recognizing elections if they do not serve Western power interests. The Constitutional Court in Romania recently annulled the presidential election, after the NATO critic and critic of the EU’s Ukraine policy, Calin Georgescu, won the first round. The Western world also does not recognize the presidential election result in Venezuela.
The result of the election in Georgia is explainable. Further rapprochement with the EU would have negative consequences for Georgia’s economy and sovereignty. The EU is economically weakened due to the Ukraine war.
A further rapprochement of Georgia with the EU would mean that Georgia would have to implement the Russian sanctions. Russia is Georgia’s most important trade partner. Implementing the Russian sanctions would likely cause a significant decline in Georgia’s economy.
On Sunday, Mikhail Saakashvili will move into the presidential palace as the new president, elected on December 14 by the parliament. The incumbent President Salome Zurabishvili does not recognize the election, seeing herself as the only legitimate political representative of Georgia. Zurabishvili is considered a puppet of the West. Therefore, further protests can be expected on Sunday.
Besides politicians and businessmen, the West is also sanctioning journalists who do not spread the Western narrative.