The Department of Strategic Communications of the Government issued a statement today, September 7, about Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s personal trip to the US.
As stated in the statement, false information was purposely spread that Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili allegedly took a charter flight to travel to the US together with his son.
“In order to mislead the public, false information was deliberately spread that Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili allegedly took a charter flight to travel to the US together with his son. In order to inform the public, we would like to explain that the Prime Minister travels to the US on regular, commercial flights of various airlines during his official, business and private visits. We explain once again that a charter flight was carried out from Tbilisi in the direction of one of the European cities, while the Prime Minister took a regular flight to travel to the US. During the private visit, the Prime Minister’s travel, as well as charter (commercial) flight or any other expenses were not paid from the state budget”, reads the statement.
Yesterday, on September 6, StratCom head Nino Giorgobian wrote on social media that Garibashvili departed to the US with his son, who was starting a new school year at the University of Pennsylvania. In her words, “certain media outlets are trying to create a scandal”, although “there is nothing scandalous”.
“Every person has the desire and the right to be by his child’s side at such an important time. Moreover, neither the law was violated nor the state expenses incurred.
In August, the Prime Minister was on a private visit to the US, and his trip, as well as the charter (commercial) flight or any other expenses, were not paid from the state budget.
Every year, the Prime Minister fills out a property declaration, which shows all the expenses incurred, therefore, wait for the publication of the next declaration”, – the post of the head of the Government Stratcom on September 6 reads.
