Georgian rebel tycoon fights for his citizenship
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 1 November 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgian rebel tycoon fights for his citizenship, 1 November 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4ec5043728.html [accessed 24 December 2015] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
November 01, 2011
Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili
A Georgian billionaire who was stripped of his citizenship after joining the opposition has accused the country's authorities of seeking to end his political career.
Bidzina Ivanishvili told a press conference in Tbilisi on November 1 that President Mikheil Saakashvili "has absolutely illegally" annulled his citizenship and that he will fight to have it returned.
Last month, Ivanishvili announced plans to form a political party to compete against Saakashvili in parliamentary polls in 2012.
Days later, he was stripped of his citizenship for violating laws on Georgian citizenship, effectively barring him from political activities in Georgia and from financing opposition groups.
Georgian authorities have denied charges that the move was politically motivated.
compiled from agency reports
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
