Georgian billionaire Ivanishvili plans to sell its assets in Russia in spring

Georgia, Tbilisi, Feb. 8 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia/ Georgian billionaire, the leader of the Georgia Dream social movement, is planning to sell his assets in Russia in spring. Currently there is a pre-election period in Russia, which is unfavorable for financial transactions, Bidzina Ivanishvili told at a press-conference on Wednesday. "Customers of assets have already appeared, however, the pre-election period hampers negotiations with them," he added. Ivanishvili expects to sell the assets by April. He has the assets of $2 billion in Russia. Ivanishvili also announced that he appointed a former ambassador Maya Panjikidze to be his speaker. "I was choosing the appropriate candidate for a long time and finally chose the best candidate." Panjikidze is the sister of the Free Democrats leader's Irakli Alasania's wife Natia Panjikidze. Panjikidze was a Georgian envoy to Germany in 2002-2004, served as Georgia's ambassador to Germany in 2004-2007, and was ambassador to the Netherlands in 2007-2010. Her ambassador powers to the Netherlands were suspended for a year before the expiration on the basis of the presidential decree. The reason for this was an arrest of one of the Georgian high-ranking officials and his spouse in the Netherlands. However, Panjikidze stated that the cause of discharge was her kinship with Alasania. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az