Imedi /  17 January 2025, 20:41 / Reliable source

Georgian PM says sanctions initiative against Bidzina Ivanishvili tarnishes UK's reputation

Photo: Administration of the Georgian Government

Irakli Kobakhidze

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday denounced the United Kingdom for the initiative to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, stating that such an action would damage the reputation of the United Kingdom.

Kobakhidze’s comments followed after fourteen MPs in the UK House of Commons this week proposed sanctions against Ivanishvili, following the Georgian Government's decision last year not to include European Union accession talks in its agenda until 2028.

“Without any evidence or facts, they are talking about sanctioning a person who has made a significant contribution to the democratic transition in our country. Such an initiative will tarnish the reputation of the British state”, the PM said.

The Prime Minister emphasised the historical role of the UK as a pioneer of human rights and democracy.

“The United Kingdom is known as the cradle of human rights and democracy. As early as the 13th century, and later in the 17th century, the first legal acts were established in the UK, aimed at developing fundamental human rights - particularly procedural rights”, Kobakhidze noted.

The Prime Minister characterised the situation as a “tragic development”, noting that such actions could strain perceptions of the UK’s standing as a model of fairness and democratic values.

“Even such an initiative diminishes the reputation of this traditional, historical state in the eyes of the Georgian public, which is deeply unfortunate”, Kobakhidze concluded.

The Political Council of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday said the United Kingdom imposing sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the GD, would clearly demonstrate that the deep state had reduced the UK to the level of Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, and the European Parliament.

All News

Photo: Imedi TV

07 February 2025, 13:51

Politics

Parliament official says temporary investigative commission will answer citizens’ questions over activities of former UNM Gov’t, its officials between 2003 and 2012

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament, on Friday said by establishing a temporary investigative commission, the legislative body would try to provide a “clear answer” to all the questions that citizens had about the activities of the former United National Movement’s Government and its high-ranking officials between 2003 and 2012.

Photo: Screenshot from Video

07 February 2025, 12:35

Politics

Ruling party official claims many Eurocrats still under influence of deep state

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday stressed the importance of distinguishing between Europe and Eurocracy.

Photo: Georgian Interior Ministry

07 February 2025, 11:56

Politics

Police detain 26 individuals with ties to “criminal underworld”

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office, on Friday detained 26 individuals in the capital city of Tbilisi, Imereti and Samegrelo regions on charges of membership, participation and supporting the activities of a criminal underworld.

Irakli Kobakhidze

07 February 2025, 11:30

Politics

Georgian PM says ball in Brussels' court, bloc needs to be more “flexible” in its approach to new members

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said the ball was in Brussels' court and the bloc needed to be more “flexible” in its approach to new members.

Shalva Papuashvili

06 February 2025, 22:03

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker defends media regulation initiative, citing British model

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday addressed a new legislative initiative by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which includes regulations related to the media.

Shalva Papuashvili

06 February 2025, 21:50

Politics

Parliament Speaker highlights legislative initiatives to strengthen democracy, combat disinformation, limit external interference

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said that over the next two months, the legislature would work on various initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy, combating disinformation, and limiting external interference in the activities of state institutions.

Irakli Kirtskhalia

06 February 2025, 21:41

Politics

Ruling party official says primary goal driving Georgian Dream party “has always been and continues to be” strengthening country’s sovereignty

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Thursday said the primary goal driving the Georgian Dream party “has always been and continues to be” the strengthening of the sovereignty of Georgia as an independent nation.

06 February 2025, 21:22

Tourism

Regular flights between Kutaisi and Lyon to start on June 3

United Airports of Georgia on Thursday announced that regular flights between Kutaisi and Lyon would commence starting from June 3.

Maka Botchorishvili Murat Nurtleu

06 February 2025, 20:49

Foreign policy

Georgian, Kazakh FMs discuss bilateral, multilateral cooperation

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation agenda between Georgia and Kazakhstan were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and her Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 17:21

Foreign policy

Georgian PM highlights strengthening partnership with Kazakhstan as foreign policy priority

Political cooperation between Georgia and Kazakhstan is of great importance, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said during his meeting with the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Photo: Government Administration

06 February 2025, 17:01

Politics

Georgian FM says Gov’t respects other countries, expects the same from them

International cooperation and diplomatic relations should be based on mutual respect, stated Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili while discussing interactions with foreign ambassadors.

Photo: Georgian Government

06 February 2025, 16:42

Politics

Georgian PM says new media-related law addresses spread of lies, hatred

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhide on Thursday said media-related legislative changes would focus on combating the spread of lies and hate speech while remaining fully compatible with Georgia’s constitutional and international legal principles.

Photo: Parliament of Georgia

06 February 2025, 16:24

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker calls for transparency of European Endowment for Democracy funding in Georgia

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said that Brussels had to immediately disclose what the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) was funding in the country.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 15:52

Politics

PM says nowadays no one allowed to interfere in country's internal affairs

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said nowadays no one was allowed to interfere in the country's internal affairs, emphasising that all future decisions would be made independently by the Georgian Government in alignment with the national interests of the country.

Photo: Government Administration

06 February 2025, 14:17

Politics

Georgian PM says no one should have right to seek to change Gov’t “against will of people” through foreign funding of NGOs

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said no one should have the right to seek to change a Government in the country against the will of the people through foreign funding of NGOs.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 14:03

Politics

PM claims US Embassy, USAID, NED “were acting in a coordinated manner” against Georgian people, state

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday claimed the United States embassy in Georgia, along with USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and other institutions, were acting “in a coordinated manner” against the Georgian people and the Georgian state.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 13:23

Foreign policy

Kazakh President commends Georgian PM’s leadership, highlights strong bilateral ties with Georgia

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday congratulated the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on his reappointment, emphasising that this well-deserved decision reflected his strong leadership within the country.

Photo: Georgian Government

06 February 2025, 12:59

Foreign policy

Georgian PM, Kazakh President discuss multifaceted partnership

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, on Thursday highlighted “fruitful” talks with the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, discussing Georgia-Kazakhstan multifaceted partnership in areas of mutual concern.

Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs

06 February 2025, 12:25

Justice

Interior Ministry detains 22 individuals on drug-related charges, including 19 drug dealers

Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office, on Thursday detained 22 individuals on drug-related charges following a series operational and investigative measures.

Photo: Imedi TV

06 February 2025, 11:55

Politics

Georgian Parliament official advocates for FARA-style law to ensure transparency

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, on Thursday voiced strong support for a legislative initiative proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, arguing that it was mirroring American law and was serving to uphold democracy by preventing covert and shadowy activities.