“I have never hidden anything. We discovered the property tax on my wife ourselves and contacted the relevant agency,” Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of Lelo — Strong Georgia, told journalists, defending himself against recent criticism. Khazaradze said the contested property had been rented to the German ambassador through an agency and described the issue as straightforward: the tax was identified, assessed, the fine determined, and paid in advance.
He added that he was fined 2,000 GEL for an error on the declaration and accused the ruling elites of using the episode as a distraction. “Instead of verifying our findings with us, they launched a televised campaign led by the Chairman of Parliament and amplified by the so-called Prime Minister, who spent a month commenting on this tax misunderstanding,” he said. Khazaradze accused ministers close to Bidzina Ivanishvili of stealing millions, circulating ill-gotten funds within their networks, and attempting to mask those abuses with a small fine. “They will not succeed. We will continue to fight; no one can intimidate me with the threat of prison,” he said.
Related story: Anti-Corruption Bureau fines Lelo leader Mamuka Khazaradze over incomplete asset declaration
