Irakli Kobakhidze responds to Ukraine including Bidzina Ivanishvili's family members in sanctions imposed against Russia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, October 21, 2022
Ukraine imposes new sanctions against Russia. The sanctioned list includes Russian citizens, individuals and legal entities working in Russia. Bidzina Ivanishvili's relatives were among those sanctioned.
Bidzina Ivanishvili's brother - Alexander Ivanishvili and his wife - Ketevan Kharaidze, as well as Bidzina Ivanishvili's aunt - Ucha Mamatsashvili and Ucha Mamatsashvili's son - Tite Mamatsashvili are on the list of those sanctioned.
Other Georgian businessmen working in Russia - Davit Iakobashvili, as well as Aleksandre and Giorgi Japaridze - were included in the list of sanctioned persons.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed two decrees on the imposition of sanctions. The package of sanctions was developed by the National Security and Defense Council. It includes 2,507 individuals and 1,374 legal entities.
According to Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the council, it was difficult and time-consuming work.
"There are Russian oligarchs on the list, the names of some of them may be unexpected, as well as many companies and corporations," Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian media.
Sanctions imposed by the Ukrainian authorities on these persons include freezing of assets, restriction of trade operations, suspension of the possibility of leasing state property, prohibition of purchase of real estate, confiscation of licenses and other permits, prevention of capital withdrawal outside of Ukraine and other types of restrictions.
Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the "Georgian Dream" party, spoke to journalists about the sanctions imposed by Ukraine on the relatives and entourage of Bidzina Ivanishvili. He repeated once again that this is an attempt to open a "second front", but they will not be able to do it.
"You remember the direct call of the Secretary of the Security Council, Danilov, regarding the second front, and the same agency is blackmailing the country with sanctions. Several members of Bidzina Ivanishvili's family are mentioned in the sanctions, but do you know what rhetoric preceded it and what is the context of all this, to blackmail the country into the war and open a second front here. This is a desperate attempt," he told reporters.
He also said that whether this decision of Zelensky will affect the diplomatic and partnership relations between the two countries is up to the executive power.
"I don't know what kind of response this should be. It is the task of the executive to discuss such issues. I wasn't in a hurry. I would still remain in the mode of one-sided friendship with the Ukrainian government, for one simple reason, we have friendly relations with the Ukrainian people, on the other hand, the country is in a difficult situation, because there is a war, therefore I would not give in to emotions and maintain one-sided friendship, including with Ukraine with the authorities. This is my position," he said.
