Kyiv is trying to drag Georgia into a war against Ukraine with the help of blackmail, but this attempt is "doomed to failure," the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Iraklii Kobakhidze, said on Thursday, commenting on Ukraine's recent move to impose sanctions on the relatives of GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and several other businessmen.
"The second front will not be opened in Georgia. Any such attempts will be doomed to failure, despite the fact that Kyiv is hardly trying to do it," said Kobakhidze.
Kobakhidze said that the issue of a Swiss bank delaying the transfer of $500 million to Ivanishvili following a recent Bermuda court ruling was also used to "blackmail" Ivanishvili [to allegedly put pressure on the current Georgian president. The government's dream of getting involved in the war].
The head of the ruling party claimed that the plan was later "exposed" by MEP Viola von Kramon.
"Viola von Kramon basically said this when she directly linked the resolution [the European Parliament resolution in June that called for sanctions against Ivanishvili and the bank [Credit Suisse]. She tried to deny it then, but it was said in black and white. So, in the end, this coordination is directly visible," said Kobakhidze.
Ivanishvili's brother Oleksandr Ivanishvili, his wife Ketevan Haraidze, aunt Ucha Mamatsashvili and her son Tite Mamatsashvili were put on the Ukrainian "black list".
Sanctions will also apply to businessmen Davit Yakobashvili, Oleksandr Japaridze and Georgy Japaridze.
Local mass media report that President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the relevant decree.
