As Georgia approaches its parliamentary elections, all eyes are on Bidzina Ivanishvili the billionaire former prime minister often seen as the country’s true power broker. Known as the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Ivanishvili’s influence is said to have shaped Georgia’s political landscape over the past decade, with many critics dubbing him the nation’s “puppet master.”
Since entering politics in 2012, the 68-year-old tycoon vowed to transform Georgia into a beacon of democracy, pledging to “astonish Europe” with his leadership. However, Ivanishvili’s rule has faced mounting criticism, particularly from the European Parliament, which recently called for sanctions against him for allegedly “undermining democracy” and steering Georgia closer to Russia.
Rising from Poverty to Power
Bidzina Ivanishvili’s journey began humbly in Chorvila, a small Georgian village, before he amassed a fortune in Russia during the chaotic 1990s, when state-owned Soviet assets were being privatized. Today, he is worth approximately $4.9 billion nearly one-sixth of Georgia’s GDP and wields considerable influence without any official title in Georgian government.
Ivanishvili’s involvement in politics began in 2012 when he became prime minister after founding Georgian Dream. Though he officially retired after a year, he returned to serve as the party’s honorary chairman in 2023, strategically placing his loyalists in positions of power.
Under Ivanishvili’s guidance, Georgian Dream has shifted from a pro-Western stance toward an increasingly anti-Western rhetoric. Over the years, watchdog groups have raised concerns about the party’s alleged encroachment on independent institutions and judicial independence. Transparency International Georgia noted in a recent report that “Ivanishvili has managed to gradually capture all branches of power” by appointing close associates to key positions within law enforcement and security agencies.
An Empire Built on Art, Exotic Animals, and Baobabs
Outside politics, Ivanishvili lives in a lavish mansion overlooking Tbilisi, replete with an impressive collection of contemporary art and exotic features. His private zoo includes a shark aquarium, and he owns baobab trees transported from Africa, reflecting his eccentric lifestyle. Despite his opulent life, critics argue he is “detached from reality,” relying on a tight-knit circle of loyalists to maintain his grip on power.
Former advisor and confidant Gia Khukhashvili claims that Ivanishvili “thinks of the country as his personal property,” while Giorgi Bachiashvili, former head of Ivanishvili’s Co-Investment Fund, describes him as a “power-drunk criminal” trading away Georgia’s future.
A Shift in Allegiances
Ivanishvili’s campaign for this year’s elections has raised eyebrows due to his efforts to secure a parliamentary supermajority. He has framed the election as a choice between “sovereignty and submission to foreign powers,” claiming that the opposition, with foreign backing, seeks to drag Georgia into conflict with Russia. Recently, Georgian Dream introduced a controversial “foreign influence” law, prompting protests and causing the EU to pause Georgia’s membership talks.
Polls indicate that several opposition coalitions could secure enough votes to challenge Georgian Dream’s dominance. However, Ivanishvili’s stronghold over state institutions and his powerful financial influence may still play a pivotal role in Georgia’s upcoming election and beyond.
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