The News in Brief
Friday, October 4, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
U.S. Embassy Denies Sanctions on Georgian Dream's Honorary Chair Bidzina Ivanishvili and Family
The U.S. Embassy in Georgia has denied claims that the United States has imposed financial sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, or his family members. The statement came after local media reported that Ivanishvili's children living abroad had their access to bank accounts restricted.
"The United States has not imposed financial sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili or his immediate family members," adding that the U.S. Department of Treasury publicly discloses all financial sanctions.
The clarification follows an October 2 report from opposition-leaning Formula TV, which, citing a "reliable source," claimed that Ivanishvili's children-Uta, Gvantsa, and Bera-who live abroad, had faced restrictions on some bank accounts, with others allegedly being blocked. Of Ivanishvili's four children, three have resided outside of Georgia for years.
Aleksandre Tsuladze Appointed as Georgia's New Minister of Education, Science, and Youth
On October 2, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze officially introduced Aleksandre Tsuladze as the new Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia. Tsuladze, who previously served as the Director of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity, emphasizing the importance of education in shaping the country's future. "Education creates the future of the country, and I believe that with our dedication, hard work, and responsibility, we will ensure a better future for this country," he stated.
Tsuladze's appointment comes after his leadership at the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, where he oversaw the Accreditation Council, which recently granted a controversial "conditional accreditation" to Ilia State University. Prior to his role as director, Tsuladze held the position of First Deputy Minister of Education from December 2023 to August 2024, and before that, he served as a judge in Georgia's Supreme Court from 2019 to 2023.
U.S. Embassy Denies Sanctions on Georgian Dream's Honorary Chair Bidzina Ivanishvili and Family
"The United States has not imposed financial sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili or his immediate family members," adding that the U.S. Department of Treasury publicly discloses all financial sanctions.
The clarification follows an October 2 report from opposition-leaning Formula TV, which, citing a "reliable source," claimed that Ivanishvili's children-Uta, Gvantsa, and Bera-who live abroad, had faced restrictions on some bank accounts, with others allegedly being blocked. Of Ivanishvili's four children, three have resided outside of Georgia for years.
Aleksandre Tsuladze Appointed as Georgia's New Minister of Education, Science, and Youth
Tsuladze's appointment comes after his leadership at the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, where he oversaw the Accreditation Council, which recently granted a controversial "conditional accreditation" to Ilia State University. Prior to his role as director, Tsuladze held the position of First Deputy Minister of Education from December 2023 to August 2024, and before that, he served as a judge in Georgia's Supreme Court from 2019 to 2023.