Ivanishvili Refuses Meeting with U.S. Ambassador, Claims Sanctions and Pressure
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of Georgia's ruling party Georgian Dream and former Prime Minister, has rejected a request to meet with U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan. In a public statement released on May 28, he accused the United States of targeting him with unofficial sanctions and using financial restrictions as political leverage.
"In a situation where I am subjected to informal sanctions and unprecedented pressure, any direct communication with the U.S. Ambassador would be neither appropriate nor productive," Ivanishvili stated.
He explained that a foreign bank has blocked access to his assets since 2022, allegedly under instructions from the United States. Ivanishvili claimed he attempted to resolve the issue by proposing a full transfer of control over the funds to U.S. authorities, but he received no reply.
"I offered the American side to fully control the use of my frozen funds," he said. "But my proposal was not even answered. This silence clearly demonstrates that the freezing was not about legality but about exerting political pressure."
Ivanishvili described the situation as coercive and warned that it undermines the integrity of any future discussions. "Any conversation would take place in a setting where one side holds the other's financial and political interests hostage," he added.
He also criticized what he sees as the United States bypassing the country's elected leadership. "It is noteworthy that the American side also refuses to meet with the Prime Minister of Georgia, who is not subjected to any sanctions. This once again confirms that the goal is to avoid dealing with the legitimate leadership of the country," Ivanishvili said.
Despite his concerns, Ivanishvili expressed hope that relations between Georgia and the United States could improve. "I am ready to support the restoration of healthy relations between Georgia and the United States. But this must happen without pressure, blackmail, or personal revenge," he said.
