US sanctions founder of Georgia’s ruling political party

Bidzina Ivanishvili, centre, leader of the Georgian Dream party, has been sanctioned by the US (Alamy/PA)

The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, US officials said.

The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement.