Former Prime Minister and imprisoned Irakli Garibashvili has released a statement, saying that “from today, full responsibility for the safety of himself and his family rests with Bidzina Ivanishvili and the entire government.”
We are publishing Irakli Garibashvili’s statement, which was posted on his Facebook page:
“This letter was sent to me on the instructions of Bidzina Ivanishvili. I did everything I could to avoid taking this step. Unfortunately, they left me no other choice but to stand up to this humiliating evil – this ruthless cruelty, oppression/injustice, and the dirty plan to destroy me and my family. Tomorrow, I will publish a lengthy letter and tell the public my truth. From today, full responsibility for my safety and that of my family rests with Bidzina Ivanishvili and the entire government,” the statement reads.
Garibashvili also published the letter to which he was responding. A photo of a letter has been posted on the Facebook accounts of Irakli Garibashvili and his wife, Nanuka Tamazashvili. The letter is typed, rather than handwritten. Garibashvili says the letter was sent to him “on the instructions of Bidzina Ivanishvili.”
“ ‘Supporters’ such as Dito Chubinidze and Irma Inashvili, as well as campaigns organized on social media, have raised very serious suspicions and caused us significant damage. Very intensive work is underway on several cases, the likely outcome of which will be corruption charges. Therefore, we have two options: 1. Fight seriously and pursue the matter to the end. 2. (The second option was offered to us as a compromise solution) – admit (take responsibility for) one particular case, in which everything would be settled by agreement, including the admission of guilt, witnesses giving statements, etc. In this case, they are offering a plea deal with the same five-year term. As they explain to me, the sentences will run concurrently, so the term will remain five years. After your release, you must stay away from politics, and if you decide to ‘betray’ us, the corruption charge you will have admitted to will serve as a mechanism to ensure that you do not consider returning to politics,” the letter reads.
