Ivanishvili’s citizenship issue

Georgia’s ruling party to strip president of powers to grant citizenship

By | July 4th, 2018|Categories: Politics|Tags: |

Presidential spokesperson Ana Natsvlishvili said the bill is the outcome of a long running ‘feud’ between President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party prepares to take away the president’s power to grant people citizenship. According to a bill presented Tuesday, the president will no longer be entitled to appoint the head of the commission which reviews applications for citizenship. […]

Supreme Court gives Ivanishvili back Georgian citizenship

By | January 28th, 2014|Categories: News|Tags: |

Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–After waiting more than two years, ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili is finally a Georgian citizen. The businessman had his Georgian citizenship revoked by then President Saakashvili in October 2011, shortly after he declared that he would […]

Ivanishvili is still not a Georgian citizen

By | February 6th, 2013|Categories: Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s head of government Bidzina Ivanishvili has temporarily suspended the process of canceling his French passport, because it may cost him his position. The prime minister said at a press conference Tuesday that he still doesn’t have […]

Saakashvili offers Ivanishvili Georgian citizenship

By | October 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

Reason to smile. Bidzina Ivanishvili gets restored the citizenship of his native country deprived from him one year ago when he went into politics. (IPN.) TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili today offered Georgian citizenship to the future prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. October 2011, the former businessman wrote in an open letter that he was planning to go into politics and change the government through […]

Ivanishvili has not voted

By | October 1st, 2012|Categories: Elections, Elections '12-'13, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of Georgia’s opposition coalition has not voted in Monday’s parliamentary election. Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of Georgian Dream, says he refuses to use his new constitutional right to vote, thereby adhering to a statement he made […]

Appeal rejected in Ivanishvili citizenship case

By | June 29th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Tbilisi Appeals Court upheld the city court’s decision in the case of opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s citizenship. This means he is still without a citizenship of his native Georgia, and he will be barred from standing for election or engaging […]

Ivanishvili takes his citizenship case to the UN

By | June 29th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has complained to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Georgian Dream spokesperson Tina Khidasheli says they are bringing his citizenship case to the Committee because the government […]

Another court hearing in drawn-out Ivanishvili case

By | June 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – It was just another day in court for the lawyers of Bidzina Ivanishvili, in a series of legal troubles that some people describe as kafkaesque. After throwing himself into the political ring in October 2011, the billionaire is still without a […]

Ivanishvili gets new appeal hearing about citizenship

By | June 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Appeals Court in Tbilisi will June 21 hear the appeal of Bidzina Ivanishvili, after he lost his case to reclaim his Georgian citizenship. The court made this decision on Friday. President Mikheil Saakashvili revoked wealthy opposition […]

Georgia consolidates law made for Ivanishvili

By | June 8th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia is to change its Election Code so it complies with the recently amended constitution. This means that Saakashvilis main competitor will have the right to participate in elections, and to establish and finance a political party. According to […]

Saakashvili signed ‘Ivanishvili law’

By | May 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – President Saakashvili has signed a set of constitutional changes which allow his main competitor to participate in parliamentary and presidential elections. The changes will allow a citizen of an EU country, who is born in Georgia and has lived here […]

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia assesses the situation

By | May 25th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: , |

Lasha Tugushi (left) interviews John R. Bass (right), Ambassador of the United States to Georgia. (Embassy photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch – DF Watch sat down with U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, John Bass, for a conversation about the situation in the country. For the latest two months about twenty cases were observed, when government representatives interrupted media activity and in some […]

Saakashvili regime surprised by Ivanishvili’s cold shoulder

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – One of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s top officials says he was taken by surprise by an open letter from opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili yesterday, in which he said that he will not make use of a new tailor-made constitutional change […]

Ivanishvili rejects having to run as a foreigner

By | May 23rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian parliament today passed constitutional changes meant to let opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili participate in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Ivanishvili, Georgia’s richest, decided to go into politics […]

New doubt about Ivanishvili’s political rights

By | May 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The parliament in Georgia Tuesday once more modified a set of constitutional changes which were meant to let Saakashvili’s main competitor participate in elections. At the second hearing, Vakhtang Khmaladze, legal expert and representative of the […]

Georgia’s ruling party allows Ivanishvili to run

By | May 15th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Lawmakers in Georgia have finally achieved consensus for constitutional changes which will give opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili the right to participate in elections, without being a Georgian citizen. The amendment was originally proposed […]

Confusion over whether Ivanishvili will be allowed election rights

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Lawmakers in Georgia have temporarily given EU citizens political rights in the country for the next three years. The rights will expire on January 1, 2014. The constitutional amendment is widely seen as a measure to allow opposition billionaire […]

Georgian billionaire Ivanishvili goes back to court

By | May 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The opposition billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is going back to court, in a further effort to be recognized as a Georgian citizen. Authorities annulled Ivanishvili’s citizenship shortly after he revealed his plans to become a politician in October […]

Ivanishvili citizenship quick fix to only last three years

By | May 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The constitutional changes Georgia recently passed which gives EU citizens the right to stand for election will be restricted to only last for three years. The Christian Democrats party recently suggested constitutional amendments according to […]

Uncertain who will front Georgian opposition movement

By | April 21st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – It is still unknown who will be the formal leader of the main opposition movement in Georgia, less than six months before the parliamentary elections. But there is little doubt that the real leader will be billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who Saturday […]

Ivanishvili reluctantly agrees to run as a French candidate

By | April 13th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili continues his struggle to be allowed to stand for election for parliament in October. His lawyers say a recently proposed constitutional change to allow non-Georgians to hold office has not made the […]

Ivanishvili will not apply for double citizenship

By | April 11th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s richest is not going to apply to the president for double citizenship. Bidzina Ivanishvili’s citizenship issue is still unresolved. Six months has passed since the president revoked it, which happened four days after the businessman released […]

Georgia to amend constitution in Ivanishvili case

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili’s main competitor will be allowed to participate in the parliamentary elections in October, after the government agreed to amend the constitution. Following the amendment, EU citizens can run in elections in Georgia. […]

The Truth about Denial of Citizenship

By | April 9th, 2012|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , |

A couple of days ago the Government of Georgia denied the Georgian billionaire Bizdina Ivanishvili the Georgian citizenship for which Mr. Ivanishvili, a child of Georgian parents, one who was born, grown up and educated in Georgia, applied in early January 2012. […]

Christian Democrats want to change the law in Ivanishvili case

By | April 6th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Christian Democrats propose a new law which will allow Saakashvili’s main opponent to participate in elections without being a Georgian citizen. His citizenship issue is still unclear. The Georgian president revoked billionaire businessman […]

Ivanishvili says he will get back political rights

By | April 5th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Yesterday, he was denied having his political rights restored, but today Georgia’s richest man vowed to regain his citizenship, form a political party and launch himself as candidate for Prime Minister within just over two weeks. Georgian […]

Ivanishivli denied political rights, continues fight

By | April 4th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian authorities today denied the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili of becoming a citizen of his native country. Today’s decision by the Civil Registry to deny him citizenship by naturalization ends the last legal avenue the opposition […]

Ivanishvili counting days till political rights restored

By | April 3rd, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is considered the main competitor of the Georgian government, is counting the days left until his Georgian citizenship is restored, giving him full political rights. The final date for when the government […]

Ivanishvili citizenship decision next week

By | March 30th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgia’s Deputy Justice Minister says there will be a decision in about a week regarding the businessman who had his citizenship revoked. Bidzina Ivanishvili is considered to be Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s main competitor, but his […]

Ivanishvili’s citizenship still unresolved

By | March 1st, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Civil Registry is out of time to give a written response regarding opposition businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian citizenship, his lawyers say. On January 5, his lawyers filed an application to the Civil Registry asking to give Ivanshvili […]

Wife of opposition financier to sue Georgia’s Saakashvili

By | February 10th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , |

TBILISI, DFWatch – The wife of opposition financier Bidzina Ivanishvili is suing Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, after he wrongfully revoked her citizenship. Saakashvili revoked Ekaterine Khvedelidze’s Georgian citizenship last October, at a time when […]

Ivanishvili’s wife gets back her Georgian citizenship

By | January 24th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Ekaterine Khvedelidze, wife of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, is a Georgian citizen again, after the president decided not to appeal a court ruling. This paves the way for the Ivanishvili couple to formally register a political party and run in the election this fall. On December 27 Tbilisi City Court ruled [...]

Georgian government may play for time in Ivanishvili case

By | January 16th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - The government in Georgia can gain one year by delaying a court case which will decide whether to allow an opposition financier to form a political party. By that time, the parliamentary election will be over.  The only legal way for the government not to allow Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and his wife [...]

Georgian opposition financier waiting, considering options

By | January 12th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Lawyers working for Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili claim there are 44 days left for the President and the Civil Registry to decide whether to give him back his Georgian citizenship. They also say France will only revoke his French citizenship after the businessman’s has had restored his Georgian citizenship. The businessman’s citizenship troubles [...]

Georgian tycoon-politician might use wife to form party

By | January 12th, 2012|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Ekaterine Khvedelidze, wife of the Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is going to set up a new political party and compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Khvedelidze said this today as she appealed for a judge to immediately enforce a court ruling which restores her Georgian citizenship. In October, her husband unexpectedly broke out [...]

Citizenship issue postponed indefinitely

By | January 8th, 2012|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - A Georgian billionaire who wants to run in the election in fall may have to wait for a long time for his citizenship application. Bidzina Ivanishvili lost his Georgian citizenship in October, four days after declaring that he wants to challenge Mikheil Saakashvili's power. He needs a citizenship in order to legally run [...]

Georgia’s richest could become stateless

By | December 29th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - The Georgian businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, listed by Forbes as the world’s 185th richest, could become stateless, after today renouncing his French citizenship too. A little over two months ago the financier turned politician held triple French-Russian-Georgian citizenship, but after getting entangled in politics he has had to hand in two of them to [...]

Court hands president partial rebuke

By | December 27th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Tbilisi City Court has declared partially invalid a decree issued by President Mikheil Saakashvili on October 11 regarding a businessman and his wife’s citizenship. The court said the president had acted illegally when he issued the decree which revoked the citizenships of the couple, but only in dealing with the businessman’s wife, Ekaterine [...]

Ivanishvili appeals court ruling

By | December 27th, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - A businessman has decided to appeal a court decision given today which upholds president Mikheil Saakashvili's decision to rob him of his Georgian citizenship. Bidzina Ivanishvili declared October 7 that he would use his significant wealth and influence to remove Saakashvili from power. Four days later the president revoked his citizenship, thereby blocking [...]

Citizenship decision today

By | December 27th, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Will a city court in Georgia dare to go against the country’s president? By Tuesday afternoon this should be known, as Tbilisi City Court prepares to announce its ruling in a citizenship case. President Mikheil Saakashvili October 11 revoked a businessman’s citizenship, four days after the latter had declared he would mobilize his [...]

Ivanishvili renounces Russian citizenship

By | December 26th, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - The Georgian businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili has renounced his Russian citizenship. This comes while there is only one day left until a court ruling about his Georgian citizenship. Ivanishvili held triple Georgian-Russian-French citizenship until recently, but is now only a French citizen. His Georgian citizenship was revoked by president Mikheil Saakashvili shortly [...]

Claims president had conflict of interest

By | December 22nd, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili had a conflict of interest when revoking a businessman’s citizenship, lawyers argued in Tbilisi City Court Thursday. The case concerns Bidzina Ivanishvili, a popular financier, who October 7 declared that he wanted to run in next year’s parliamentary election. Four days later, Saakashvili personally signed a decree which means [...]

Businessman has a backup plan

By | December 22nd, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch - The businessman who is trying to claim power in Georgia has a plan for what to do in case he doesn't get back his citizenship. One of his lawyers, Zakaria Kutsnashvili, said this Wednesday. He was answering a questions from a representative of the Estonian embassy, who wanted to know what Mr Ivanishvili [...]

Citizenship case continues today

By | December 22nd, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Tbilisi City Court 10 am today continued hearing the case of businessman Bidzina ivanishvili and his wife Ekaterina Khvedelidze. The couple are asking the court to declare invalid a decree by president Mikheil Saakashvili which revoked their citizenship. This made it illegal for Mr Ivanishvili to run in next year's parliamentary election. Polls [...]

Authorities’ urgency scrutinized in citizenship case

By | December 20th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - The authorities in Georgia moved with lightening speed and acted on assumptions when revoking a businessman’s citizenship right after he had announced a new opposition movement. A court in Tbilisi today continued to hear the case of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a newcomer to politics who scores roughly as high as the ruling party [...]

Will businessman get a fair hearing?

By | December 20th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - At 2 pm today the courtcase which could decide Georgia’s future continues. The question before Tbilisi City Court is whether to declare invalid a decree issues by President Mikhail Saakashvili. The decree robbed Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili of his citizenship, thereby making it illegal for him to enter politics. His lawyer appealed the [...]

Impartiality and Georgian Courts

By | December 15th, 2011|Categories: Opinion|Tags: , |

Almost a century ago an English judge, Lord Chief Justice Hewart, pronounced his famous aphorism: “… it is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance, that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.” (R v Sussex Justices; Ex parte McCarthy [1924]). Since then these [...]

Claims judge is partial

By | December 13th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Lawyers representing a Georgian businessman and his wife twice asked the judge to be taken off a case which could decide the country's future because they think the judge is partial in favor of the defendant. Their request was overruled. Judge Shota Getsadze Monday reviewed the appeal of lawyers representing Bidzina Ivanishvili and Ekaterine [...]

Decisive citizenship case postponed

By | December 8th, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - A court case which could decide the future of Georgia has been postponed due to a judge’s illness. Georgian billionaire and opposition politician Bidzina Ivanishvili was told Thursday that his and his wife’s appeal about their revoked citizenship has been postponed until December 12, because the judge is ill. The final ruling in the [...]

Walked 250 km for democracy

By | November 29th, 2011|Categories: In brief, News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Three supporters of the Georgian businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili walked for five days and nights to support his right to get back his citizenship. The ordeal started in front of Gelati, a church in Western Georgia vested with religious and historical significance, and ended at the Trinity cathedral in central Tbilisi. Ivanishvili was stripped [...]

Ivanishvili citizenship decision gets closer

By | November 23rd, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

TBILISI, DFWatch - Businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili is one step closer to knowing whether he will be allowed to run in Georgia’s coming parliamentary and presidential elections through ordinary avenues, as Tbilisi’s city court schedules his pre-trial session for December 5. The issue before the court is whether to give him back his Georgian citizenship. But Ivanishvili [...]

Patriarch: Everything will be all right

By | November 16th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch - It was a moment heavy with symbolism when Georgian businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili and Patriarch Ilia II emerged from their meeting Tuesday. “We are pleased that Ivanishvili visited the Antioch today. We have discussed a number of issues, especially the future of Georgia and its current condition. I think everything will be all right,” [...]

Saakashvili challenger consults with Patriarch

By | November 15th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: , , |

TBILISI, DFWatch - The main challenger in Georgian politics Tuesday consulted with the country's highly respected patriarch, and received advice about his further steps to claim power.  Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, Georgia's most respected person, met Bidzina Ivanishvili Tuesday at 6 pm, and the businessman afterwards said he received many tips which will help him in his [...]

Legal review of the case of Bidzina Ivanishvili and Ekaterine Khvedelidze

By | November 5th, 2011|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

The reason of writing this article is an unstoppable speculation of the government representatives regarding the revocation of citizenship of Bidzina Ivanishvili and his wife Ekaterine Khvedelidze and the allegations that the revocation was a result of obtaining French citizenship and thereby violating the Georgian constitution by both of them. I have already noted a number [...]

Financier’s citizenship ends up in court

By | October 16th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

The financier Bidzina Ivanishvili has decided to go to court in order to get back his citizenship which was taken from him right after he announced he would use his considerable wealth and influence to challenge the ruling party's grip over the country. “We made a decision to file the lawsuit with the court against the [...]

Billionaire’s citizenship was unlawfully revoked, lawyer says

By | October 13th, 2011|Categories: News|Tags: |

The stripping of a businessman's citizenship right after he made a dramatic call to remove Mikheil Saakashvili from power moved one step closer to turning into a legal battle Thursday, as Bidzina Ivanishvili's lawyer presented five documents said to prove that Georgia was breaking the law when revoking his citizenship. "We request a clear and specific [...]

Disenfranchisement of a Georgian Tycoon: Was It Lawful?

By | October 12th, 2011|Categories: Opinion|Tags: |

In just a couple of days after Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Georgian billionaire known internationally as Boris Ivanishvili, had announced his plans to establish his own political party, to run for the parliamentary and presidential elections due in 2012 and 2013, to win decisively both elections, and to set up a new one-party government, the Georgian authorities [...]

Georgia bars billionaire from entering politics

By | October 12th, 2011|Categories: News, Politics|Tags: |

The authorities in Georgia have stripped the country's richest man of his citizenship, just as he was preparing to launch a new opposition movement aimed at unseating president Mikheil Saakashvili in elections the coming two years. Revoking Bidzina Ivanishvili's citizenship effectively means that he can't legally take part in political activities nor fund political parties, nor [...]