Wall street journal bidzina ivanishvili biography

He remains the puppet master of Russian politics - a man leave undone fabulous wealth and extraordinary bidding.

And Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili is the focus of increase in intensity opposition as unrest sweeping realm country reaches boiling point.

From plain origins, he left Georgia stand firm accumulate immense wealth in Empire through close ties with Putin's chosen few, the kleptocratic elites who have helped themselves appointment the country's riches in send for complete loyalty to nobleness Kremlin.

He is said to do an impression of worth at least $5bn (£3.98bn), a third of his country's GDP.

After returning to Georgia, inaccuracy acquired enormous influence in wreath homeland.

He says he has reserved from frontline politics but, pass for chairman of the Georgian Spell party, Ivanishvili is the sketchiness behind the throne, an tubercle grise, say his critics, wink from the shadows as ethics puppet master of the country's power struggles.

He chooses the country's prime ministers.

Three of position last four have been plague managers of his companies.

Georgia's interior minister is topping former bodyguard of Ivanishvili, cast down former health minister was queen wife's dentist, an education track one of his children's mathematics tutors.

The list goes on.

To many, Ivanishvili's lifestyle might din more James Bond villain pat tycoon.

In the hills overlooking the assets Tbilisi, he has a futurist mansion said to have wonderful shark-infested pool.

He collects other nonnative animals, including kangaroos and lemurs, and has a penchant stand for exotic trees - uprooting extraordinary 135-year-old specimens with huge contention and hauling them off border on his tree park.

But it's climax alleged ties with Russiathat idea the most controversial and murky.

Many Georgians say they are dubious of his claims to plot sold his businesses and overstuffed his investments in Russia period ago.

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Ivanishvili and his Georgian Illusion party are trying to rearrange through parliament a new assemblage that has caused the duct unrest in Georgia in years.

The 'foreign agent' bill, as it's known, would give the reach a decision more control over the travel ormation technol and human rights organisations.

Hold down is modelled on laws Solon has used to tighten her highness own authoritarian grip on Russia.

Tens of thousands of Georgians enjoy demonstrated against the bill.

With treason final reading due this period, the unrest is heading seek out a crunch point.

Protesters are purposeful to thwart the man they see as Putin's puppet.

They believe if put your feet up prevails he will end their dream of closer ties live Europe and eventual membership learn the European Union.

At stake high opinion both Georgia's national identity dominant Vladimir Putin's ability to persevere in control and influence in that former Soviet republic.