“Since 2012, Bidzina Ivanishvili has been the leader and founder of the party, but he has never, through his actions or words, shown that he stands above anyone. Irakli Kobakhidze brought a guest who arrived in the country to the party’s founder and leader. If I bring a guest to your house and you are the main host, it does not mean that my role is somehow diminished,” said Parliament’s First Vice-Speaker Gia Volski, responding to a question about the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Dream’s Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.

According to him, “one cannot make a decision about who has more influence based on footage.”

“You cannot decide who has more influence based on taken footage – you need to know the system. Since 2012, Bidzina Ivanishvili has been the leader and founder of the party, but he has never shown through his actions or words that he stands above anyone.

Irakli Kobakhidze brought a guest who came to the country to the party’s founder and leader. I cannot prevent you from interpreting this topic, but it is a very bad example to judge the relationships that have been established within the party.

During Bidzina Ivanishvili’s time as Prime Minister, quite intensive and close relations were established with the leadership of Azerbaijan and they have not been broken to this day. So, if I bring a guest to your house and you are the main host, it does not mean that my role is somehow diminished, and this interpretation of yours is certainly not conscientious,” Volski stated.

When asked about Bidzina Ivanishvili’s role in governing the country, Volski replied that “Bidzina Ivanishvili, as the founder of this party, the founder of this government, as a person who has made a significant contribution to the country’s survival process, is accordingly appreciated by all of us.”

“He has an important role, just like many of us, but the fact is that Bidzina Ivanishvili, as the founder of this party, the founder of this government, as a person who has made a significant contribution to the country’s survival process, is appreciated by all of us. No decision has ever been made by him without the consultations he had, including with members of the political council.

As for the Prime Minister, he is the one who governs; he manages the system that has been established and which has not undergone any changes in the recent period. Irakli Kobakhidze lacks neither intellect, nor knowledge, nor the right attitude. Bidzina Ivanishvili enjoys respect and appreciation in this country, and his dedication to this country is known to everyone — except you. It is known to you too, but it gets on your nerves,” Gia Volski noted.

For information: Yesterday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who arrived in Georgia on an official visit, after meetings with Irakli Kobakhidze and Mikheil Kavelashvili, was received by Georgian Dream’s Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. Aliyev met Ivanishvili at the Tbilisi business center. From the released video recording, it is visible that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was present during Aliyev’s visit to the business center. In addition, Ivanishvili introduced to the Azerbaijani President the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili, Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, Head of the Government Administration Levan Zhorzholiani, and Georgia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Pataridze.