TBILISI, December 27. /TASS/. The US sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party, are a reprisal for defending his country's national interests, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters.

"Because Bidzina Ivanishvili defended and served the interests of this country, he was effectively under sanctions, and now he found himself under formal sanctions. It is nothing special. This is just a reward for the defense of our country's national interests," he said.

According to the prime minister, Ivanishvili had been blackmailed with sanctions for a long time. However, with the sanctions now in effect, there is nothing left to be used for blackmailing the ruling party’s honorary chairman.

Earlier on Friday, the US imposed sanctions against Ivanishvili. That means his US accounts will be frozen and American nationals and companies will be banned from doing business with him. The US Department of the Treasury said the restrictions do not apply to companies in which Ivanishvili has a stake, unless they are blacklisted separately. The US accuses Ivanishvili of allegedly undermining Georgia's democratic and Euro-Atlantic future in the interests of the Russian Federation.

A new wave of rallies started in Georgia on November 28. They were sparked by a statement from Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who said the ruling Georgian Dream — Democratic Georgia party had decided to put on ice any EU accession talks until the end of 2028 and turn down any funding from the bloc. According to the official, the decision was prompted by regular EU blackmail in relation to the talks, along with calls to rescind some recent laws and sanction Georgian officials.