new usa Visas and financial sanctions The bill imposed this month on the Georgian government and representatives of the ruling party Georgian Dream failed to include oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the person responsible for Georgia's authoritarian and pro-Russian direction. , was insufficient.
The new sanctions imposed by the Biden administration come in addition to other sanctions imposed earlier this year for corruption, anti-democratic practices and human rights violations. The sanctions were well justified, but not sufficient.
The United States should make clear that it will use financial influence over Mr. Ivanishvili himself and his party if they continue down a path that is disastrous for the Georgian people and the U.S.-Georgian relationship.
Ivanishvili Made a fortune doing business in Russia before returning to his homeland and securing victory for his Georgian Dream party in the 2012 parliamentary elections. Since 2012, he has been the power behind the throne, making decisions even though he only held the official position for the first of those 12 years. In the meantime, he has sought to improve relations with Moscow, even as relations with Russia continue to improve. occupied 20% of Georgian territory Direct flights between Georgia and Russia have been restored, thousands of Russians have visited Georgia, and trade between the two countries is booming.
His ruling party also adopted Russia-style legislation. This law requires domestic non-governmental organizations that receive funding from foreign countries to register as “agents under foreign influence.” Despite massive protests against the law. Russian-style laws were also enacted. Ban on same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples, and treatment of transgender people. Ivanishvili recently hinted at the previous government, led by a former president (now a political prisoner). The person in charge was Mikheil Saakashvili, not Russia. Due to the bloodshed of 2008 and the subsequent occupation of Russia.
Ivanishvili announced his formal return to Georgian politics shortly after the European Union announced last December that Georgia would be eligible to run, and months before the crucial October elections.
During his campaign, his fiery speeches promised dire anti-democratic and anti-Western outcomes if the opposition won the October 26 parliamentary elections. He claimed that the United States and Europe (the “World War Party”) were funding opposition leaders and opposition leaders.It has ordered the reinstallation of Saakashvili's “insane and brutal regime” and opening a “second front” with Russia..
Ivanishvili insisted the ruling party would prevent such an outcome “at all costs” and insisted there were no hidden threats to resort to election manipulation.
Hinting that the entire pro-Western opposition was aligned with Mr. Saakashvili, he promised:Georgia's Nuremberg Trials” immediately after the election. He said he would impose a “deserved harsh political and legal sentence” on pro-Western rebels for Saakashvili's “bloody rule”. Asked specifically who would be banned and prevented from entering parliament,His Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze named— all major opposition parties.
Georgian Dream already controls all three branches of government. By promising to outlaw the opposition and cripple civil society and independent media, Ivanishvili and Kobakhidze are essentially portraying an anti-Western totalitarian regime that rules over a pro-Western population. There will be.
In return, the United States told Ivanishvili that if he rigged the October election in his favor or followed through on his threats to ban the rebels, he and his billions would be charged to the Treasury. They must be notified that they will face financial sanctions head-on.
In fact, sanctions against Ivanishvili should have been imposed months ago, including when Ivanishvili and his government and Congressional minions were launching vicious rhetorical attacks against the former U.S. ambassador and members of Congress. . If we can persuade him, if he follows through on his implicit threat to change the election results, and his explicit threat to ban all opposition and turn Georgia into an anti-Western dictatorship, then a high-paying private There will be sanctions, but we will be able to deter his actions.
Furthermore, with concerns about election fraud pervasive and civil society under attack, international election observers need to be vigilant in calling out irregularities and irregularities. The United States and its allies must take a firm stand against legitimizing election fraud.
According to the newspaper, Georgia Dream remains the top vote-getter but is unlikely to win a majority of votes.recent opinion pollsAhead of next month's parliamentary elections. That could pave the way for a coalition of opposition parties to unite and defeat the Georgian Dream, but these parties have struggled to fully unite.
Polls consistently show thatThat the people of Georgia are still very pro-American, pro-European Union, pro-NATO, pro-democracy. Georgia, once a vibrant democracy in a troubled region, has become a problem rather than a partner, but both the United States and the European Union have made it clear that, if they choose to exercise, both countries will face significant risks. It has become an issue of interest and influence.
Dangling the threat of painful and targeted sanctions now could save Georgians from the pro-Russian and authoritarian future promised by the oligarchy.
Ambassador Ian Kelly (ret.) is Ambassador-at-Large to Northwestern University and former U.S. Ambassador to Georgia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. David J. Kramer is Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
