Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has commented on the indictment of former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, saying it is “sad and regrettable” to hear such allegations about a longtime political ally.
“I have known Irakli for a very long time. We have been together since 2012. He was our comrade. It breaks my heart,” Kaladze told reporters. He stressed that conclusions should not be drawn before the investigation is completed.
Responding to a question about whether he had learned of the alleged activities only from the Prosecutor’s Office briefing, Kaladze confirmed he had no prior information.
“We have not had any questions. The cars he used were state property, and he provided explanations regarding the charter flight. Today this is not interesting. We must wait for answers, wait to see how the investigation proceeds and how it ends. It is neither right nor appropriate to make judgments in advance,” the mayor said.
Garibashvili recently left politics and resigned from the ruling party. He has been charged under Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph “c” of the Criminal Code, which concerns the legalization of illegal income involving particularly large sums.
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