The details were added (the first version was posted at 12:55 p.m.)
Georgia, Tbilisi, Oct. 7 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is interested in getting involved in politics, has refused to take the citizenship of Russia and France and has sold his business in Russia, the billionaire's statement said on Friday.
"A part of my capital is in the form of business in Russia," he said. "I will sell my business in Russia before the parliamentary elections in 2012 so as not to have any problems while involved in politics. For the same reason I refused to take Russian and French citizenship. I will return the Russian and French passports."
He thinks that it is impossible to accurately manage the political process and achieve the desired results for the country due to the opposition's financial support.
"I admit that these explanations will not be enough for my political opponents," he said. "I am well aware that I will need the rest of my life to convince the public of my sincerity."
Ivanishvili intends to establish a political party to participate in parliamentary elections in Georgia in 2012.
According to Forbes, Ivanishvili's fortune is $4.8 billion.