VOA: US officials say sanctions against pro-Russian former Georgian PM are ready to go 

Voice of America has published a report indicating that the US Department of Treasury are preparing sanctions aimed against Bidzina Ivanishvili. Excerpt follows below.

The United States is preparing sanctions against former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili as concerns mount over his role in deepening ties with Russia and steering the country away from its democratic path, according to two U.S. government sources who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity.

U.S. officials say Ivanishvili’s alleged actions benefit Russian interests and undermine Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union and NATO.

“We have information that Ivanishvili undertook actions to develop relations with Russian oligarchs, took actions to enable Russia to gain better access to the Georgian market. In fact, he, took some actions at the direction of the Russian intelligence services,” a senior U.S. official told VOA’s Georgian service on the condition of anonymity, given the sensitivity of discussing the sanctions. (…)

The U.S. sanctions targeting Ivanishvili fall under Executive Order 14024, on “Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation,” signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

“Executive Order 14024 has broad authorities to designate individuals who engage in, behaviors that undermine democratic institutions, democratic values, engage in transnational corruption,” the senior U.S. official, speaking on background, told VOA. “There is a whole range of activities that, if they are found to be benefiting the Russian Federation, those are sanctioned.”

When and if sanctions are imposed on Ivanishvili, his assets within U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen, and American citizens and companies will be prohibited from doing business with him. The sanctions would also cut Ivanishvili off from the global financial system, given that many international institutions follow U.S. regulations in order to avoid secondary sanctions. In addition to asset freezes, visa restrictions could be implemented, limiting Ivanishvili’s access to global banking services and ability to travel outside of Georgia.

“When the United States spoke of potential sanctions, Ivanishvili always believed that they were bluffing,” Tina Bokuchava, leader of the opposition United National Movement party, told VOA. “Now he understands that undermining Georgian democracy, and depriving Georgia [of] Euro-Atlantic prospects, implies real consequences from the United States.”

The sanctions targeting Ivanishvili follow visa restrictions and asset freezes that the U.S. imposed in recent months on individuals in Georgia accused of undermining democratic processes there.

“I think the Biden administration has been frustrated by its inability to get the Georgian government to take seriously the position they’ve put themselves in,” a source familiar with the discussions within the U.S. government told VOA on condition of anonymity. “The Biden people are trying to convey the seriousness and hope that somebody in the Georgian government is listening in a serious way.”