Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticized the proposal by 14 UK MPs to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, calling it baseless and unjustified. He emphasized Ivanishvili’s significant role in Georgia’s democratic transition and argued that the sanctions would lack evidence or factual foundation.
Kobakhidze warned that imposing such measures would tarnish the UK’s reputation as a historical champion of human rights and democracy. He highlighted the UK’s legacy dating back to the 13th and 17th centuries when fundamental legal acts were introduced to protect human rights. The PM said this historical role contrasted with the potential sanctions, which he described as a “tragic event” that could harm the UK’s image in the eyes of the Georgian public.
