I am grateful to the United States for a strong step in support of the Georgian people and our entire region - the sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy writes on Twitter.

According to the Ukrainian President, Bidzina Ivanishvili is doing everything to hand Georgia over to Putin’s control.

“Ivanishvili is the de facto ruler in Tbilisi today and is doing everything to hand Georgia over to Putin’s control. The loss of any country in our region, the destruction of democracy for one nation, and the spread of criminal Russian influence pose a threat to the entire region and all its peoples.

Ukraine has already implemented a full set of sanctions against Ivanishvili and key figures in his mafia group. Now, another decisive action—America’s strong sanctions. We call on all European partners and all global partners who value normal life and the freedom of nations to impose similar sanctions against Ivanishvili, so he understands the price of destroying his country’s independence and humiliating the Georgian people.

We believe that no mafia will be able to steal the Georgian people’s dream of living freely within the family of free nations, within the European community”, Zelenskyy tweeted.