**US Sanctions Georgian Politician**
On December 27, the US government put sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili. He is the founder and leader of the ruling party in Georgia, called Georgian Dream.
The US says Ivanishvili’s actions have helped people with power to abuse human rights in Georgia. They also say he has stopped Georgia from becoming part of Europe, which many Georgians want.
The US State Department said: “Ivanishvili and his party have ruined democracy in Georgia. They have allowed people to be hurt for speaking out or protesting.”
**What do the sanctions mean?**
The US says that all of Ivanishvili’s property and money in the US must now be frozen. This means he cannot use these things until the sanctions are lifted.
Companies owned by Ivanishvili can still work, but they have to follow new rules. The US government will keep an eye on any transactions they make.
The sanctions also affect other people who have worked with Ivanishvili in certain cases.
**Background**
Georgia is a country that has been trying to join Europe and become more democratic. However, the ruling party, Georgian Dream, has been accused of not allowing this to happen.
The US government has previously put sanctions on some officials from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs for being violent against protesters and journalists.
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