Former Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri is speaking out against his brother’s inclusion in a list of “Bidzina Ivanishvili‘s enablers”. This list, published by Radio Liberty, names 25 people who allegedly support the authoritarian rule of the Georgian government.
Nika Gilauri believes that his brother’s inclusion on this list was a deliberate attempt to discredit the process and draw attention away from the real issues. He claims that those responsible for including his brother in the list are likely the ones who should be targeted by sanctions. “This would not have happened without the use of ‘useful idiots’,” he said.
The company where Nika Gilauri’s brother works, Georgian Capital, has issued a statement saying that it fully supports him and does not agree with any opinion that might suggest he is a target for US or other country’s sanctions. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and manages funds from large American and European investors.
Nika Gilauri believes that his brother’s inclusion in the list was an attempt to discredit the process of exposing corruption and authoritarian rule in Georgia. He has contacted officials in the US Congress and the future administration, saying he is confident that this mistake will be corrected soon.