Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s wealthiest individual and former prime minister, is suspected of transferring assets to Georgia to avoid U.S. sanctions. Transparency International (TI) Georgia claims recent tax code amendments, which allow tax-free asset transfers from offshore accounts, were tailored to benefit Ivanishvili.
With an estimated fortune of $4.9 billion, largely held in offshore accounts, Ivanishvili has faced growing scrutiny. The U.S. imposed sanctions on him in response to Georgia’s political crackdown, including the suspension of EU accession talks and violent suppression of protests. TI Georgia suggests he is shifting company ownership from offshore entities to domestic firms. The UK may also sanction him, which could affect his businesses linked to British Overseas Territories.
In January, nearly $500 million worth of artwork entered Georgia, allegedly from Ivanishvili’s collection, raising further concerns.
Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has defended Ivanishvili, calling the threat of sanctions "without foundation" and crediting him for the country's "democratic breakthrough." The head of Georgia’s parliamentary finance committee, Paata Kvijinadze, justified the tax changes, stating they were intended to attract investment.
Ivanishvili has also sued Swiss bank Julius Baer, alleging it misinterpreted U.S. sanctions. His long-running disputes with Credit Suisse over financial mismanagement have reportedly fuelled his distrust of Western institutions.
Experts warn that Georgia’s economy faces significant risks due to ongoing political instability and international isolation. While the government highlights a recent $6 billion investment deal with the UAE as a sign of economic resilience, analysts predict stagnation and growing fiscal challenges.
The U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea under a new trade deal that also includes a $350bn (about £264bn) South Korean investme...
Canada plans to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday, joining Fran...
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports, citing concerns over judicial overreach and human rights violatio...
An estimated 80,000 children are vulnerable to cholera in West and Central Africa amid ongoing outbreaks and the onset of heavy rains, according to th...
With just one day left until Donald Trump’s 1 August tariff deadline, the U.S. has announced trade deals with several countries, but many remain inc...
Freight traffic on the vital Middle Corridor trade route has nearly tripled through Georgia in the first half of the year, officials have confirmed, highlighting the growing strategic importance of the South Caucasus as a key artery for commerce between Asia and Europe.
The multinational military exercise Agile Spirit 2025 has officially kicked off in Georgia, underscoring country’s ongoing cooperation with NATO. The opening ceremony took place at the NATO–Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) in Krtsanisi.
Azerbaijan and Georgia will deepen their cooperation ties across various sectors. It's after Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has rejected claims of pro-Russian policy as unfounded propaganda, blaming foreign pressure and defending his government's commitment to sovereignty, non-alignment, and national values.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Türkiye continues to confront the devastating legacy of past earthquakes, Istanbul is taking a major step toward future precautions—with the launch of an AI-powered disaster response system.
The Russian state news agency has reported that Shahin Shykhlinski, head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg, has been declared wanted in connection with a criminal offense.
A two-day official visit by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Türkiye concluded with the signing of 20 agreements aimed at expanding the strategic partnership between the two countries in key areas, including mining and rare earth minerals, space and technology, energy, and logistics.
The 5th meeting of the Kazakhstan–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, chaired by the two countries’ leaders was held on Tuesday in Ankara. The meeting was focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of economy, transport, and investment.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Türkiye on Tuesday for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment