“There was never talk about involving Georgia in Russia’s war against Ukraine or about ‘blackmail’ or actions to stall the transfer of Mr Ivanishvili’s money,” US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan stated in an interview with InterPressNews.

During the March 21 meeting with Georgian Dream party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Ambassador said she discussed the US-Georgia strategic partnership and US efforts to support Georgia’s democratic, security, and economic development.

“We normally do not talk about our private meetings in the press, but as Mr Ivanishvili has confirmed, I last met with him on March 21, which was some time ago. When Mr Ivanishvili and I met, it was in the capacity of discussing the U.S.-Georgia partnership and the United States’ efforts to support Georgia’s economic, security, and democratic development.

Let me be absolutely clear, so no one will have to ask again: there was never talk about involving Georgia in Russia’s war against Ukraine or about “blackmail” or actions to stall the transfer of Mr Ivanishvili’s money.

I would refer you to him or the banks involved regarding questions on these topics. When the United States imposes financial sanctions, we announce them publicly.

There is a searchable list on the Treasury Department’s website where banks, media, and the general public can check who is and isn’t subject to financial sanctions. Any discussion of Swiss bank accounts is frankly a distraction from the important work at hand.

As Mr Ivanishvili noted in his July 27 statement, this is a private matter between him and his financial institution,” Kelly Degnan told InterPressNews.

On July 27, the GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili released a statement touching various issues. In the ending part, Ivanishvili noted he had held a three-hour meeting with Kelly Degnan on March 21 at the request of the Ambassador.