Ex-Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili still influences the country, the Chairman of the Parliament, David Usupashvili, said in his speech at Georgetown University in Washington.
"Bidzina Ivanishvili has never claimed he would disappear from the country. He has established a non-governmental organization 'Citizen' and wants to be active through it. His comments and positions are not merely a simple Georgian civilian’s opinion, as he is greatly respected by both the public and the political force he has established. He still influences us and I cannot deny it," News-Georgia cited Usupashvili.
According to the chairman of the Georgian parliament, Ivanishvili's leaving was premature. "Is he always right when making comments? No, just as I am not always right. The reason for which he left politics was that he did not want to establish a messianic tradition in Georgia. I advised Ivanishvili not to leave so early but he left anyway, though he continues to influence us," Usupashvili concluded.
