MEPs' amendments to the annual report discuss sanctioning of Ivanishvili, free media and anti-west rhetoric
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The MEPs came out with the initiative of amendments in the annual report on the implementation of the Association Agreement of Georgia with the European Union.
According to the amendment document, one of the important issues is the sanctioning of Bidzina Ivanishvili by the West, which is mentioned 12 times in the amendment document.
It also talks about attacks on the owners of critical media outlets and mentions the general director of the main channel Nika Gvaramia, the founder of Formula Davit Kezerashvili, and the owners and directors of TV Pirveli: Avtandil Tsereteli and Vato Tsereteli.
In the text of the amendment, the arguments for imposing sanctions on Ivanishvili are different, and in some cases, it is related to the Russian war in Ukraine and its support by Georgia, specifically Ivanishvili.
Data published by the national website of Ukraine are cited in the arguments, according to which sanctions should be imposed on Ivanishvili and his close entourage.
In the text of the amendments, one of the European parliamentarians, Anna Fotiga, requests that in case of confirmation of the allegations about possible connections with Russia, personal sanctions should be imposed on Ivanishvili and his associates.
"The European Parliament is concerned about reports that Russian people and entities are allegedly using Georgia to circumvent Western sanctions. It calls on EU institutions to look into these allegations, in particular various reports, including a report by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption of Ukraine, on Bidzina Ivanishvili's possible ties to Russia.
If these accusations are confirmed, it demands the imposition of personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and her associates," the text of Fotiga's amendments reads.
MEP Andrews Kubilius stated that Bidzina Ivanishvili is the only Georgian oligarch who has excessive influence on Georgian politics, economy, and public life.
"The European Parliament emphasizes the need to eliminate the excessive influence of vested interests on the politics, economy, and public life of Georgia by the country's only oligarch, Bidzina Ivanishvili," Kubilius's amendment states.
The amendment document also talked about anti-Western rhetoric, which is often used by the representatives of the Georgian government. Also, one of the extensive parts is dedicated to the Georgian media and the deteriorating situation.
