I can confirm that there was a request to Bidzina Ivanishvili regarding a meeting with [James O’Brien], which Ivanishvili refused. Such a statement made the Prime Minister of Georgia, while responding to the information, that “James O’Brien, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs], will bring package of sanctions to Georgia and will meet Bidzina Ivanishvili”.

“Ivanishvili is not interested in this issue [topic of sanctions], based on the fact that he considers this issue to be not serious. Regarding O’Brien’s visit, I can confirm that there was a request to Bidzina Ivanishvili regarding a meeting, which Bidzina Ivanishvili refused.

This has its explanation. There were also cases during the past months when Bidzina Ivanishvili refused to attend a meeting with other foreign diplomats and politicians. In all cases the reason for refusal was the same. Bidzina Ivanishvili claimed that he is already under de-facto sanctions. He has frozen USD 2 billion, which he entrusted to the West, but it turned out to be in the hands of the global war party.

Therefore, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s position is that he cannot hold any meeting under blackmail. This is his clear position. As soon as the blackmail and de-facto sanctions are over, any meeting can be held, but today this is Bidzina Ivanishvili’s position. Therefore, such blackmail and threats have not worked since March 2022, when the funds were frozen after the start of the war in Ukraine, and such blackmail and threats cannot be used against him.

No one will make Bidzina Ivanishvili take steps against the state, under conditions of blackmail and threats. After all, the sanction itself contains blackmail and threats. This is a non-serious topic considering all these circumstances”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.

His comment followed after the media reports alleged that James O’Brien, the Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the US Department of State, was planning to present a package of sanctions against Ivanishvili, due to which, the Georgian Dream would soften the bill on transparency of foreign influence.