“Everyone has seen very clearly that Bidzina Ivanishvili is not afraid of sanctions,” Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, told journalists.

According to the Prime Minister, informal sanctions were initially imposed on Ivanishvili—specifically, two billion was withheld from him in an utterly predatory and shameful manner.

“When we talk about Europe, let’s consider whether this behaviour is appropriate for European standards. When, without any justification, a sum of two billion is forcibly withheld from a particular individual through a commercial bank—especially someone who has held, and still holds, a high political position—these are actions unbecoming of Europe. We could never have imagined such conduct from Europe 30 or 40 years ago. Unfortunately, Europe has now reached this point. This is the result of the influence and activities of the ‘Deep State.’ Naturally, this situation is tragic. Nevertheless, Bidzina Ivanishvili is unafraid of both formal and informal sanctions. What we see now is simply blackmail, and it will have no effect,” said Irakli Kobakhidze.