The United States has imposed sanctions on Georgia's former prime minister and billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, accusing him of undermining the country’s democratic institutions and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. 

The move follows allegations of electoral fraud and mass protests over Georgia's stalled bid for European Union membership. The sanctions were announced two days before the planned inauguration of Georgian Dream nominee Mikheil Kavelashvili as the country’s next president, following an election process criticised as illegitimate by Georgia’s pro-Western opposition. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ivanishvili and Georgian Dream had "derailed Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future”", leaving the country vulnerable to Russian influence. 

“The United States is designating Bidzina Grigoris Dze Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation,” Blinken announced, in a statement published by the US State Department.

“Ivanishvili and Georgian Dream’s actions have eroded democratic institutions, enabled human rights abuses, and curbed the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Georgia. Furthermore, they have derailed Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future, a future the Georgian people overwhelmingly desire and the Georgian constitution mandates,” Blinken added. “The result has left Georgia vulnerable to Russia, which continues to occupy more than 20% of Georgia’s territory.”

The sanctions also target Georgian Dream for its alleged "ongoing and violent repression" of citizens, including protestors, journalists, human rights activists, and opposition figures. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia,” Blinken’s statement concluded.

The announcement follows widespread protests in Georgia over the suspension of EU accession talks and allegations of electoral fraud. 

Georgian Dream claimed victory in the October general, but opposition MPs have boycotted parliament, citing concerns of voter intimidation, vote-buying, and manipulation. 

Then in November, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would not seek EU membership talks until 2028. This sparked daily demonstrations and condemnation by Georgia’s Western partners. 

Pro-European protestors have faced a heavy-handed response from riot police, who have deployed tear gas and water cannons. Demonstrators have retaliated with fireworks and stones. 

The European Parliament has described the election as the latest phase in Georgia’s "worsening democratic crisis", expressing concerns about harassment of election observers and other irregularities.

The UK has sanctioned five senior Georgian officials, including the interior minister, for their roles in suppressing protests. Meanwhile, Kobakhidze has been barred from entering Lithuania after being added to the Baltic States’ list of sanctioned politicians and officials.

The inauguration of Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer and ally of Georgian Dream, as Georgia’s new president is scheduled for December 29. However, outgoing president Salome Zurabishvili, a pro-European leader, has vowed not to step down until new elections are held.

Observers warn that Georgia’s democratic backsliding risks deepening its isolation from Western allies. With over 20% of its territory occupied by Russia, the country’s Euro-Atlantic future remains uncertain amid ongoing domestic and international pressure.