The Georgian Justice Ministry on Wednesday issued a statement stating that billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili should apply for dual citizenship should he want to apply for Georgian citizenship.

The statement, appearing on the ministry website, was issued in response to Ivanishvili's application for Georgian citizenship, filed on Jan. 5, 2012.

"Georgian legislation provides two separate procedures for individuals seeking to obtain Georgian citizenship: individuals who currently are citizens of another country can apply for dual citizenship, while stateless persons pursue a naturalization process," it said.

The ministry stated that the billionaire, currently a French national, cannot obtain Georgian citizenship through naturalization under the Georgian law.

Ivanishvili was deprived of his Georgian citizenship by a Georgian presidential decree on Oct. 11 last year.

The ministry statement was released one day before the expiration of the three-month deadline for responding to the billionaire's application.

Ivanishvili submitted to the French embassy in Tbilisi on Dec. 29, 2011 a request for starting procedures for withdrawing his French citizenship.

The Civil Registry Agency will have three months to respond to the billionaire's application for dual citizenship.