US President Joe Biden canceled the invitation to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, to the reception on September 25, where world leaders and high-ranking officials of the United Nations are meeting. The Georgian government's administration confirmed this to "Civil Georgia." The Georgian delegation led by Kobakhidze is attending the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

The Georgian service of "Voice of America," citing anonymous sources from the White House and Congress, first reported that Prime Minister Kobakhidze's invitation to the traditional reception for the fall session of the UN General Assembly had been canceled.

"Voice of America" ​​reports, citing a White House source, that "the recent actions and statements of the Georgian government indicate a shocking disrespect for democracy and the will of the Georgian people."

According to "Voice of America," the decision of the Biden administration was made after the last communication with the government of Georgia did not give the American administration hope that Tbilisi would change its course. The US Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan, recently said that the statements and actions of the Georgian authorities "isolate Georgia more from the West." This statement was preceded by the ambassador's meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, where the latter noted that "the American side has approached a critical limit" with the decision to impose sanctions on Georgian law enforcement officers.

Earlier this year, the US government launched a comprehensive review of relations with Georgia after the country passed a controversial "foreign agents" law. The Russian-style law is seen as a tool to silence civil society.

The US State Department has imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Georgian officials and other individuals responsible for undermining democracy in the country. The US Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on two employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, who are responsible for the brutal crackdown on citizens during protests, as well as two individuals associated with "Alt-Info."

Last week, "Voice of America" ​​reported, based on its sources, that the US State Department and the US Treasury are preparing a package of sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream. It is not yet known when this package will be launched. A source told VOA that the US has information that Bidzina Ivanishvili has taken steps to "develop relations with Russian oligarchs, taking steps to give Russia better access to the Georgian market." In fact, he took certain actions on the instructions of the Russian intelligence service."

While in New York, Prime Minister Kobakhidze told the Georgian media that "blackmail continues" against Bidzina Ivanishvili. According to him, the purpose of this is to "force Bidzina Ivanishvili to take a step that is against the national interests of Georgia," but he added that "this blackmail is doomed to failure."