Political analysts treat Georgian authorities' situation on "deoligarchization" as hopeless

Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Georgian oligarch, has managed to export his huge capitals from Russia, and in exchange for this he could take on the commitment to promote the pro-Russian agenda in Georgia. However, authorities of the European Union (EU) have toughened their position towards reducing Ivanishvili's influence on the decisions of Georgian authorities; and the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party can only use the "deoligarchization" in order to increase its ratings before the 2024 parliamentary elections, the political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 9, MEPs (the Deputies of the European Parliament) adopted a resolution in which they proposed the Council of Europe and its partners to impose personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili because of his links with the Kremlin and influence on the Georgian government amid persecutions of journalists and oppositionists.

Mamuka Zhgenti, an employee of the Institute of Georgia's European Values, has drawn attention to the fact that there was no precedent in the EU for a specific surname to be mentioned in a resolution on "deoligarchization". Moreover, the Georgian authorities "have launched an open confrontation with Washington, Brussels, Paris and Berlin." It is possible that Ivanishvili has some obligations before Russian authorities and is forced to fulfil them, Mr Zhgenti believes.

"Ivanishvili had capital in Russia, and it's impossible to withdraw it from there without any obligations or assumed responsibility," Mamuka Zhgenti has emphasized.

The extension of the deadline for considering the Georgia's candidate status for the EU membership is due to the lack of the desire in a part of Georgian authorities to implement reforms, Nika Chitadze, the head of the Centre for Studying Security and International Relations, believes. "One of the clearest indicators thereof is the statement of the leaders of the 'Georgian Dream' that Ivanishvili is not an oligarch. The very figure of Ivanishvili is a big problem for European integration," Mr Chitadze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The postponement of consideration by the EU authorities of granting Georgia with the candidate status for EU membership until 2023 is due to the country's unwillingness to fulfil the EU's requirements for obtaining the status, in particular, in the matter of "deoligarchization", Valery Chechelashvili, an analyst at the Georgian Fund for Strategic and International Studies, believes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 19, 2022 at 08:23 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.