Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder and honorary chair of Georgia’s ruling party, has responded to US sanctions by moving ownership of multiple offshore companies to Georgia. The move, which shields his assets from potential global economic exposure, comes as international scrutiny over his influence in Georgian politics intensifies.

In December, the United States sanctioned Ivanishvili, accusing him of undermining Georgia’s democracy for the benefit of Russia. The US government cited concerns over the Georgian Dream party’s increasing authoritarian tendencies and its alignment with Moscow. Given Ivanishvili’s extensive wealth, much of which was amassed in Russia during the 1990s, these concerns are not unfounded.

Critics argue that the ruling Georgian Dream party, which Ivanishvili founded, has become increasingly repressive, particularly in its handling of recent mass protests. The government’s harsh crackdown on opposition movements and civil society organizations has sparked fears of democratic backsliding. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has pushed back against these accusations, claiming that external forces are attempting to orchestrate a revolution in the country akin to the 2014 uprising in Ukraine.

Just days after being sanctioned, Ivanishvili initiated a major restructuring of his assets. On December 31, he began shifting ownership of offshore companies to Georgia, a move analyzed by Transparency International Georgia. One of these firms owns a portion of Ivanishvili’s luxurious glass and steel mansion that overlooks Tbilisi, the country’s capital.

Further investigations by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed additional high-end properties owned by these firms. These include a newly discovered luxury residence in a spa town and the former........

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