In the recent actions taken by the Ukrainian government, Israeli-Georgian tycoon Mikhael Mirilshvili, known to have connections with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other prominent politicians, has been sanctioned. Ukraine is appealing to other nations to support its move by applying similar sanctions on the billionaire.
The Ukrainian government decided to sanction Mirilshvili in February this year. This decision was informed by intelligence from the nation’s anti-corruption agency and the National Security Council. Although not explicitly stated, the Ukrainian government is of the view that Mirilshvili has been aiding Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
Being one of Israel’s wealthiest individuals, Mirilshvili reportedly has a net worth of NIS 2.2 billion. His son, Yitzhak, owns Channel 14, previously known as Channel 20, which benefitted from a specific law passed under Netanyahu’s administration in 2017.
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Mirilshvili has made significant contributions to several Israeli political figures, including but not limited to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Avigdor Lieberman, Ze’ev Elkin, and Yuli Edelstein.
Having immigrated to Israel in 1995, Mirilshvili and his family moved to Russia, where he was sentenced to an eight-year prison term for kidnapping, a charge he continually denied, suggesting it was a conspiracy against him. He made his way back to Israel in 2009.
His extensive business portfolio includes industries like diamond trade, technology, renewable energy, and real estate.
An acquaintance of Mirilshvili expressed concerns about the timing and circumstances leading to his inclusion in the sanctions list, particularly noting that it was a year after the conflict started and after a campaign against him surfacing on Ukrainian websites.
These sanctions could significantly affect Mirilshvili’s business ventures. Given that he is already dealing with legal issues in Israel, the sanctions might further hinder the functioning of his businesses.
This move to sanction Mirilshvili suggests the increasing strain between Israel and Ukraine. Israel has faced criticism for its lackluster response to the Ukraine conflict, and the sanctions on Mirilshvili might escalate the tensions between the two nations.
